Expert Reviews
Star ratings reflect scores of 1 to 5 assigned to the Mayo Clinic Diet in seven categories by nutritionists, specialists in diabetes and heart disease, and other diet experts on a ratings panel assembled by U.S. News. (See our Best Diets methodology.) Experts approved of the diet’s nutritional profile, safety, and ability to prevent or treat diabetes or heart disease but were slightly skeptical of its ability to deliver weight loss, citing an absence of rigorous studies on which to base their scores. Still, it earned an overall rating of nearly 4 stars, putting it near the top. Below, ratings in all categories and how the experts’ opinions broke down.
Short-Term Weight Loss
| 5 stars | (2) | |
| 4 stars | (6) | |
| 3 stars | (10) | |
| 2 stars | (3) | |
| 1 star | (0) | |
Although they lacked rigorous research to draw upon, most experts felt the diet could yield short-term weight loss. Mayo’s score of slightly more than 3 stars placed it in the middle of the pack in this category.
Long-Term Weight Loss
| 5 stars | (0) | |
| 4 stars | (3) | |
| 3 stars | (12) | |
| 2 stars | (4) | |
| 1 star | (0) | |
Few diets were rated better than moderately effective, and the Mayo Clinic Diet was no exception. In the near-total absence of rigorous long-term studies, experts are reluctant to conclude that any given diet will work over the long haul. Mayo scored higher than many other diets, though.
Easy to Follow
| 5 stars | (0) | |
| 4 stars | (8) | |
| 3 stars | (8) | |
| 2 stars | (5) | |
| 1 star | (0) | |
Most of our experts thought it was moderately easy to very easy to follow. But whether dieters would have the will to stay on track was an issue with some panelists. They were more confident about Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.
Nutrition
| 5 stars | (8) | |
| 4 stars | (12) | |
| 3 stars | (1) | |
| 2 stars | (0) | |
| 1 star | (0) | |
High scores for the Mayo Clinic Diet were the norm when the experts put Mayo Clinic’s eating pyramid up against the federal government’s 2010 Dietary Guidelines. It’s “how we all should eat,” one panelist commented.
Safety
| 5 stars | (14) | |
| 4 stars | (7) | |
| 3 stars | (0) | |
| 2 stars | (0) | |
| 1 star | (0) | |
This was the highest-scoring measure on Mayo’s plate, generating nothing but 4s and 5s across the board when the experts considered the health risks posed by the Mayo Clinic Diet. It rated more than 4½ stars, better than most of the other diets.
For Diabetes
| 5 stars | (1) | |
| 4 stars | (11) | |
| 3 stars | (7) | |
| 2 stars | (2) | |
| 1 star | (0) | |
Although not specifically developed as a diet for preventing or controlling diabetes, the majority of our experts considered the Mayo Clinic Diet’s approach to be better than other diets for that purpose. In this category, Mayo's 3½ stars was solid.
For Heart Health
| 5 stars | (2) | |
| 4 stars | (11) | |
| 3 stars | (7) | |
| 2 stars | (1) | |
| 1 star | (0) | |
The panel thought the Mayo Clinic Diet seemed to be a good option for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The diet’s scores averaged about 3½ stars, which defined it as a high performer in this measure.
