U.S. News Report’s 2025 Best Diet expands evaluations, Mediterranean diet comes out on top again

In its 15th annual diet evaluation, U.S. News and World Report scores the Mediterranean diet as the “most highly rated” out of 38 diets examined. The 2025 edition evaluated 21 categories and the Mediterranean diet scored the highest across many of these. Compared to 2024, the organization added 12 diet categories and 13 diets to its rating.

As the focus of healthy eating has evolved beyond weight loss toward disease prevention and overall well-being, the evaluation includes new categories focusing on specific health needs or lifestyle goals, such as arthritis, menopause, brain health and cognition, gut health and inflammation. 

Additionally, U.S. News moved to a five-star rating system instead of the previously used ranking, noting that most consumers are familiar with such a system. 

“Best Diets’ updated rating evaluation system reflects the diverse needs and goals of individuals, considering factors beyond weight loss,” says Gretel Schueller, managing editor of health at U.S. News. 

“By moving away from a ranked list of diets and nearly doubling our number of evaluated health and lifestyle categories, U.S. News aims to provide consumers with a more personalized experience as they consider their health priorities and eating goals.”

What makes a diet the best?

The expert panel assessed the Best Overall Diets based on nutritional completeness, health risks and benefits, long-term sustainability and evidence-based effectiveness.

For 2025, 69 experts selected the Mediterranean diet (rating of 4.8), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet (4.6), Flexitarian diet (4.5) and MIND diet (4.4), which is a combination of Mediterranean and DASH diets. 

Schueller points to several overarching themes across all categories for the top-rated diets: “They emphasize whole foods like fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds and plant-based proteins.” 

“The other thing is that top-rated diets won’t make you feel deprived. They’re not going to make you prohibit or restrict entire food groups, and you’ll be able to follow them for the long term.” 

In addition, Schueller highlights that none of the “unhealthy ingredients” or occasional foods like sugary drinks, desserts and processed foods are completely off the table. “They should certainly be limited, but in any of these top-rated diets, these are things that you can still enjoy for special occasions or treats.”

The profiles of 2025 Best Diets also explain how a diet works, whether claims are realistic, what potential health risks are and what it’s like to live on the diet. Moreover, U.S. News includes sample meal plans, scientific studies for associated health benefits and tips for succeeding. 

Schueller says the top-rated diets emphasize whole foods like fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and plant proteins.New health goals

The 2025 evaluation also examined diets across seven lifestyle goals, such as Easiest Diets to Follow, Best Diet Programs, Best Diets for Healthy Eating and Best Weight Loss Diets, as well as 13 health conditions, like mental health, pre-diabetes, fatty liver, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. 

Most of these diet categories, except for diabetes, are new additions. Schueller explains that the new categories are part of a “growing recognition that diet and health are closely intertwined.” 

“We wanted to recognize that and allow people to truly personalize the diet they’re looking for for their specific health and lifestyle goals.” 

Schueller details that the new health categories cover common conditions that are “closely aligned with diet choice and can either be prevented, managed and in some cases treated through diet.”

The power of nutrition

U.S. News underscores that although weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may make weight loss efforts more successful, “they are not a replacement for healthy eating and exercise.” Moreover, the organization points to studies indicating that these drugs are most effective when combined with proper nutrition and exercise. 

Schueller says that one study concluded that diet is the root of 85% of all diseases. “We wanted to acknowledge that, and we also wanted to give people very specific diet and health goals.” 

The expert panelists rated the diets they would most recommend for each health goal or condition.For example, diets high in ultra-processed foods or having obesity are linked to increased risks of many chronic diseases such as diabetes or cardiometabolic health issues. Meanwhile, research indicates that specific dietary patterns, such as focusing on plant proteins, may improve cardiovascular health. 

Last year, the Scientific Report of the US 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee examined the relationship between diet and a wide range of chronic diseases. The report serves as input for the next version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Among others, it recommends prioritizing plant proteins, limiting red and processed meat intake and focusing on dietary patterns high in fruit, vegetables, whole grains and unsaturated fats. 

Expert panelists

The 2025 evaluation was conducted in partnership with The Harris Poll and includes diet evaluations by 69 expert panelists, such as medical doctors, registered dietitians, nutritional epidemiologists, chefs and weight loss researchers. 

Schueller highlights that the members are vetted to ensure “we have people who are truly experts in their field.” 

She adds that the panel includes a diverse group: “We have people who are big fans of plant-based eating, while we also have folks who recognize the benefits of a low-carb diet, for example. We also have people who focus exclusively on women’s health, aging or sports nutrition.”

The panelists rated the diets they would most recommend for each health goal or condition on a 1–5 Likert Scale, which was combined to create an overall rating of diets per category. 

Schueller explains that the five-star rating allows for more nuanced feedback compared to the previously used ranking system. 

“We can see the intensity of our expert’s opinion on one diet versus another. We see more clearly which ones they strongly feel are good diets versus the ones they’re not big fans of. It offers a more personalized experience for the users as they consider their health priorities and goals.”