For those looking to drop a few pounds in the new year, but are overwhelmed by multitude of weight loss plans on the market, U.S. News & World Report has ranked 32 of the most popular plans in its new Best Diets 2014 report.
 
In it’s fourth Best Diets report, an expert panel of nutrition and health professionals chose the DASH diet as the best diet overall, while the ever-popular Weight Watchers plan maintained its title as the best weight-loss diet.
 
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 additions to this year’s list included the Acid-Alkaline Diet, the Spark Solution Diet and the Fast Diet. U.S. News also 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.
 
Here’s a look at this year’s Best Diets of 2014, according to U.S. News & World Report:
 
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
1. 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
3. 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