U.S. News & World Report on Tuesday released its 'Best Diets' list for 2023, with the Mediterranean diet ranking No. 1 for the sixth consecutive year.

How U.S. News chooses the best diets

For this year's "Best Diets" ranking, U.S. News editors and reporters "spent months considering potential additions" to the rankings. They reviewed government reports, medical journals, and other resources to create detailed profiles for the diets that made the final list. Each profile explains:

• How the diet works
• Whether it lives up to its claims
• Any possible health risks
• What life is like on the diet

For 2023, U.S. News ranked 24 diets instead of 40, removing several plans that were integrated into other diets or no longer supported.

A panel of 33 experts in nutrition, obesity, food psychology, and chronic disease management reviewed each profile and rated the diets. In addition, U.S. News asked the experts to describe what they liked or disliked about the diets and provide advice for individuals considering the diet.

Following the experts' evaluations, U.S. News converted the ratings into scores ranging from five to one, with five being the highest quality and one being the lowest. Then, they used those scores to create 11 sets of "Best Diets" rankings for 2023, including:

1. Best diets overall

2. Best diet programs

3. Best long-term weight-loss and maintenance diets

4. Best short-term weight-loss diets

5. Best diabetes diets

6. Best heart-healthy diets

7. Best diets for healthy eating

8. Easiest diets to follow

9. Best plant-based diets

10. Best diets for bone and joint health

11. Family-friendly diets

This year, the rankings include two new categories—best diets for bone and joint health and family-friendly diets.

"If you want to eat healthier, choosing a diet that is right for you can be difficult," said Gretel Schueller, managing editor of health at U.S. News. "The U.S. News rankings examine diets that are well-researched and provide sustainable weight loss tips. We added two new categories to this year's rankings to provide even more options to support a healthy lifestyle."

Best overall

The diets that made the top five on the "Best Diets Overall" list are:

• The Mediterranean diet, which ranks No. 1 for the sixth consecutive year. According to research, the diet—which is inspired by the observation that people in the Mediterranean regions live longer, healthier lives—can prevent chronic diseases and increase longevity, U.S. News reports. The diet is low in sugar, red meat, and saturated fats, but high in produce, nuts, and other healthy foods.

• The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which tied for No. 2 this year. The DASH Diet combats and prevents high blood pressure and diabetes. The diet focuses on foods with nutrients that help naturally control blood pressure, such as fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy. Expert panelists ranked the diet highly for its nutritional completeness and ability to support heart health.

• The Flexitarian diet, which also ranks No. 2 this year. The diet is designed to promote weight loss, overall health, and longevity by having people eat mostly—but not completely—vegetarian. The diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and is considered very easy to follow by the expert panelists.

• The MIND diet, which ranks No. 4, was created to prevent cognitive decline and promote brain health by increasing the intake of leafy greens, berries, and nuts. 

• The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet, which ranks No. 5 this year, was created by the National Institute of Health's (NIH) National Cholesterol Education Program and is focused on cutting cholesterol through a heart-healthy eating regimen.

Top diets across all categories

The top diets on the other "Best Diet" rankings were:

• The Mediterranean diet, which ranked No. 1 on the "Best Diets for Healthy Eating" and "Best Plant-Based Diets" lists and tied for the No. 1 spot on the "Best Family-Friendly Diets" and "Best Diets for Bone and Joint Health" lists.
• WeightWatchers, which ranked No. 1 on the "Best Weight Loss Diets" and the "Best Diet Programs."
• Keto, which ranked No. 1 on the "Best Fast Weight Loss Diets."
• Flexitarian, which tied for the No. 1 spot on the "Easiest Diets to Follow" and "Best Family-Friendly Diets" lists.
• The DASH diet, which ranked No. 1 on the "Best Diets for Diabetes" and "Best Diets for Heart Health" lists and tied for the No. 1 spot on the "Best Diets for Bone and Joint Health" list.
• The TLC diet, which tied for the No. 1 spot on the "Easiest Diets to Follow" and "Best Family-Friendly Diets" lists.

(U.S. News & World Report, "Best Diets" rankings, 1/3; U.S. News & World Report press release, 1/3; U.S. News & World Report methodology, 1/3)