U.S. News & World Report Announces Best Diets 2013

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For a meaningful start to a healthy new year, U.S. News & World Report released today its Best Diets 2013 rankings, featuring a variety of weight loss programs. The third installment of this popular ranking features expanded coverage, including new plant-based diets rankings.

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Best Diets 2013 provides a look at 29 diets, ranging from the Traditional Asian Diet to Weight Watchers. Diets were ranked based on ratings from an independent panel of 20 experts. The experts rated each diet in categories such as ease of compliance, diabetes control and management, heart health, weight loss, safety, and nutritional completeness.

"Many Americans struggle with maintaining a healthy diet, and especially around the first of the year tend to become interested in trying a new one," said Brian Kelly, Editor and Chief Content Officer of U.S. News. "Diets are serious business, so we've assembled the experts to provide the best and most current information for consumers."

Increasingly popular in health and wellness circles, plant-based diets have gained attention as a potential antidote to the obesity epidemic in this country. In addition to weight loss, research suggests these diets help protect against diabetes, heart disease, and other health conditions. U.S. News evaluated 11 plant-based diets, including the Anti-Inflammatory Diet, Engine 2 Diet, and Flexitarian Diet.

Among other things, an in-depth profile for each diet explains how the diet works, evaluates its claims, and reveals what it's like to live on the diet. The full methodology is available here, and for more information, please visit www.usnews.com/bestdiets2013, or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

Best Diets 2013 features rankings in the following eight categories:

Best Plant-Based Diets

The Mediterranean Diet took first place in the survey's newest category. It was followed closely by Dawn Jackson Blatner's Flexitarian Diet, a flexible approach to vegetarianism, and then Dean Ornish's Diet, a low-fat, heart-healthy eating regimen bolstered by exercise, social support and stress management techniques.

Best Weight-Loss Diets

Weight Watchers ranked first place in weight loss. Tied for second place were Jenny Craig, the Biggest Loser Diet, and the raw food diet.

Best Heart-Healthy Diets

The Ornish Diet ranked No. 1 for heart health. The TLC Diet, a government-designed eating plan that stands for Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes, took second place. Another government-developed diet, DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), came in third.

Best Diabetes Diets

The DASH Diet tied with the Biggest Loser Diet for the top diet for preventing or managing diabetes. Close behind it was a five-way tie among the Mayo Clinic Diet, the Ornish Diet, the vegan diet, Engine 2 Diet, and Flexitarian Diet.

Best Diets Overall

The DASH Diet ranked No. 1 overall. The TLC Diet came in at a close second, while the Mediterranean Diet, Mayo Clinic Diet, and Weight Watchers tied for third place.

Best Commercial Diet Plans

Some dieters may seek the structure and social support provided by many brand-name programs, so U.S. News also examined 12 commercial diet plans, from Dukan to Slim-Fast. Weight Watchers ranked No. 1, followed by Jenny Craig at No. 2, and the Biggest Loser Diet in third place.

Best Diets for Healthy Eating

Considered the gold standard by our panelists, the DASH diet claimed first place for healthfulness. Scoring second place was the TLC Diet, with the Mediterranean Diet placing third.

Easiest Diets to Follow

With its extensive guidance and support, Weight Watchers ranked No. 1 among the easiest diets to follow. Jenny Craig followed close behind in second place. A tie for third went to the Mediterranean Diet and Flexitarian Diet.

The Best Diets 2013 expert panel includes the following diet and nutrition experts:

• Teresa Fung, Professor of Nutrition, Simmons College, Boston
• Elisabetta Politi, Nutrition Director, Duke Diet and Fitness Center, Durham, N.C.
• Michael Davidson, Director of Preventive Cardiology, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
• Amy Campbell, Manager of Clinical Education Programs, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston
• Robert Kushner, Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago
• Sachiko St. Jeor, Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno
• Marion Franz, Registered dietitian, Nutrition Concepts by Franz, Inc., Minneapolis
• David Katz, Director, Yale University Prevention Research Center, Derby, Conn.
• JoAnn Manson, Chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston
• Joanne Slavin, Professor, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Associate Professor of Clinical Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York
• Laurence Sperling, Director of The Center for Heart Disease Prevention, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta
• Andrea Giancoli, Spokesperson, The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Lawrence Cheskin, Founder and director, Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, Baltimore
• Katherine Beals, Associate professor, division of nutrition, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
• Michael Rosenbaum, Associate director of the Clinical Research Resource at Columbia University Medical Center, New York
• Rebecca Reeves, Adjunct assistant professor, University of Texas School of Public Health, Austin
• Carole Harris, Senior fellow in the public health division, ICF International, Atlanta
• Penny Kris-Etherton,Distinguished professor of nutrition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is a multi-platform publisher of news and analysis, which includes the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money, Education, Travel, Cars, and Public Service/Opinion, U.S. News has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. U.S. News & World Report's signature franchise includes its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its "Best"series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, mutual funds, health plans, and more.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report