Best Weight-Loss Diets: The Data
A panel of experts examined the research supporting—or refuting—a diet's potential to bring both short- and long-term weight loss, assigning scores on a scale of 1 (ineffective) to 5 (extremely effective) in these two categories. Those measures contributed equally to a diet's overall weight-loss score. (See Best Diets methodology.)
| Rank | Diet | Overall Weight Loss | Short-Term Weight Loss | Long-Term Weight Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |
Weight Watchers
|
3.8 | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| #2 |
Biggest Loser Diet
|
3.5 | 4.1 | 2.9 |
| #2 |
Jenny Craig
|
3.5 | 3.8 | 3.2 |
| #2 |
Raw Food Diet
|
3.5 | 3.7 | 3.3 |
| #5 |
Volumetrics
|
3.4 | 3.6 | 3.2 |
| #6 | Atkins | 3.3 | 4.0 | 2.5 |
| #6 | Slim-Fast | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.2 |
| #6 | Vegan Diet | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| #9 | DASH Diet | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.0 |
| #9 | Eco-Atkins | 3.1 | 3.8 | 2.5 |
| #9 | Mayo Clinic Diet | 3.1 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
| #12 | Mediterranean Diet | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 |
| #12 | Ornish Diet | 3.0 | 3.1 | 2.8 |
| #12 | South Beach Diet | 3.0 | 3.7 | 2.3 |
| #12 | TLC Diet | 3.0 | 3.2 | 2.8 |
| #16 | Vegetarian Diet | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| #17 | Macrobiotic Diet | 2.8 | 3.1 | 2.5 |
| #18 | Flat Belly Diet | 2.7 | 3.1 | 2.3 |
| #18 | Medifast | 2.7 | 3.5 | 2.0 |
| #18 | Nutrisystem | 2.7 | 3.2 | 2.3 |
| #21 | Abs Diet | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.1 |
| #21 | Zone Diet | 2.6 | 3.0 | 2.3 |
| #23 | Dukan Diet | 2.5 | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| #23 | Glycemic-Index Diet | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.2 |
| #25 | Paleo Diet | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.7 |