DASH diet wins Best Diets Overall, while Weight Watchers continues to hold No. 1 spot for Best Weight-Loss Diets

As many Americans resolve to lose weight and lead healthier lifestyles in the new year, U.S. News & World Report today released its Best Diets 2014, featuring rankings and information on 32 diet plans. The DASH diet wins Best Diets Overall, while Weight Watchers continues to hold the No. 1 spot for Best Weight-Loss Diets.

The Mediterranean Diet, which received attention in 2013 for boosting heart health, claimed the No. 1 spot among Plant-Based Diets and the No. 3 spot among Best Diets Overall, behind DASH and the TLC Diet. The Vegetarian (No. 11) and Vegan diets (No. 18) both fell in the middle of the pack among all diets, while the Paleo diet – the most Google-searched plan of 2013 – tied for last place with the Dukan diet.

New in 2014, U.S. News ranked three additional diets – the Acid-Alkaline Diet, the Spark Solution Diet and the Fast Diet – and added extensive profiles of two popular diets for digestive health – the Gluten-Free Diet and the Low FODMAP Diet.

"Best Diets 2014 is designed to help consumers identify a diet that suits their specific needs, whether they are trying to lose weight, control a chronic disease or achieve a healthier lifestyle overall," said Angela Haupt, health & wellness editor for U.S. News. "We assembled top experts and developed the tools and rankings to provide a resource for the thousands of Americans struggling to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle."

U.S. News' panel of health experts, including nutritionists and physicians specializing in diabetes, heart health and weight loss, scored each diet for short- and long-term weight loss, ease of compliance, safety and nutrition. Diets were ranked in eight categories, including diabetes and heart disease prevention and control, as well as easiness to follow and likelihood of weight loss. For further details on how the rankings were calculated, see the methodology.

In addition to the rankings and data, Best Diets 2014 features in-depth profiles of each diet, including how the diet works, evidence supporting or refuting its claims, a nutritional snapshot, and a close look at the food on each plan. Searchable tools allow users to identify diets that meet their individual nutritional, health and lifestyle needs and new videos highlighting personal diet success stories – from a woman who lost 90 pounds on a commercial weight loss plan, to a vegan athlete who got healthy for his kids and a new mom working to lose the baby weight – inspire consumers to take charge of their health in the new year.

U.S. News Best Diets 2014 Rankings

*See the full list of the Best Diets online

Best Diets Overall  
1. DASH Diet
2. TLC Diet
3. Mediterranean Diet
3. Weight Watchers
3. Mayo Clinic Diet

Best Weight-Loss Diets
1. Weight Watchers
2. Jenny Craig
2. Biggest Loser
2. Raw Food Diet

Best Diabetes Diets
1. DASH Diet
2. Biggest Loser
3. Vegan Diet
3. Mayo Clinic Diet
3. Ornish Diet
3. Engine 2 Diet
3. Flexitarian Diet

Best Heart-Healthy Diets  
1. Ornish Diet
2. TLC Diet
3. DASH Diet

Best Diets for Healthy Eating  
1. DASH Diet
2. TLC Diet
3. Mediterranean Diet

Easiest Diets to Follow
1. Weight Watchers
2. Jenny Craig
3. Mediterranean Diet
4. Flexitarian Diet

Best Commercial Diet Plans
1. Weight Watchers
2. Jenny Craig
3. Biggest Loser

Best Plant-Based Diets
1. Mediterranean Diet
2. Flexitarian Diet
3. Ornish Diet