U.S. News & World Report releases Best Diets 2014 report

WASHINGTON — U.S. News & World Report on Tuesday released its Best Diets 2014, featuring rankings and information on 32 diet plans. The DASH diet was recognized as one of the 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 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," stated Angela Haupt, health and 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.

U.S. News Best Diets 2014 Rankings

Best Diets Overall   

1. DASH Diet


2. TLC Diet


3. Mediterranean Diet


4. Weight Watchers


5. Mayo Clinic Diet

Best Weight-Loss Diets 

1. Weight Watchers


2. Jenny Craig


3. Biggest Loser


4. Raw Food Diet

Best Diabetes Diets 

1. DASH Diet


2. Biggest Loser


3. Vegan Diet


4. Mayo Clinic Diet


5. Ornish 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