Did you know?
It's officially 2023, and if history repeats, millions of Americans are likely vowing that this year will be one when they drop those unwanted pounds for good. After all, weight loss usually lands one of the top spots on New Year's resolution surveys.
And just in time, there's guidance to pick the best plan. Released today are U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of the best diet plans.
Once again, the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and fish, got the top spot, as best diet overall. It's the sixth consecutive year for that win. But many other diets got top marks as well.
This year, U.S. News, with the help of more than 30 nutritionists, doctors, and epidemiologists, ranked 24 diets in several categories to help people find a plan that meets their goals, whether it's finding the best weight loss diet, easiest one to follow, or plans for other goals, such as managing diabetes or heart disease. Two new categories were added: Best Diets for Bone & Joint Health and Best Family-Friendly Diets.
In previous years, the publication ranked 40 diets. Even if a diet is no longer ranked, its profile with detailed information remains on the site.
"Each year we ask ourselves what we can do better or differently next time," says Gretel Schueller, managing editor of health for U.S. News. When the publication got feedback from their experts this year, they had requests to consider sustainability of diets and whether they meet a busy family's needs, in addition to considering many other factors.
This year's report ranks plans in 11 categories.
The winners and the categories:
Best Diets Overall
After the Mediterranean diet, two others tied for second place:
DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, which fights high blood pressure and emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy.
Flexitarian diet, which focuses on fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods but also allows occasional meat.
Best Weight Loss Diets
WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers, got first place. The plan emphasizes not only weight loss but healthier eating and regular activity. The Points program, which assigns specific points to foods, with a daily Points budget, is more personalized than in the past.
DASH got second place.
Mayo Clinic Diet and TLC diet tied for third place. The Mayo Clinic Diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It helps people improve their eating habits. The TLC diet (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) focuses on vegetables, fruit, lean protein, and reducing cholesterol levels.
Other category winners were keto for best fast weight-loss diet, DASH for best heart-healthy diet and best diabetes diet, and WW for best diet program and best weight-loss diet. The DASH Diet and the Flexitarian Diet tied at No. 2 for best diets overall. The TLC Diet, in tying for easiest diet to follow, moved up 10 spots from its 2022 ranking. The TLC Diet also improved in best weight-loss diet, up 16 spots to No. 3, easiest diets for healthy eating, up one spot to No. 4, and best diets for diabetes, up 10 spots to No. 6. TLC stands for therapeutic lifestyle changes. The National Institute of Health’s National Cholesterol Education Program created the diet as a way to reduce cholesterol. Consumers following the diet eat vegetables, fruit, bread, cereal, pasta and lean meats. “TLC is a non-pharmacologic strategy for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and therefore does not require dependence on prescription medications for most people, nor does it require making separate meals for you and the rest of your family,” said Luis Rustveld, PhD, a registered dietitian and assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “Adherence to the TLC Diet also does not require buying special foods or eliminating the foods you like. The emphasis is on making product comparisons by reading food labels and choosing healthier versions of the foods you like.” Over 30 nutritionists, doctors and epidemiologists examined 24 diets to develop the rankings. They noted consumers are more interested in a holistic approach to their diets. Consumers are looking for diets that include eating patterns for family members of all ages to eat meals together with little or no modification. Increasingly, consumers are choosing diets with built-in community and group support, such as the Noom Diet, which ranked No. 11 overall, and WW, which ranked No. 8 overall.
