This year’s annual “Best Diets” ratings from U.S. News & World Report featured a dozen new categories for health conditions or needs as well as 13 new diets; however, the best overall diet still came as no surprise.

For 2025, the Mediterranean diet yet again took the top spot for best overall diet among 38 contenders.

With its emphasis on intake of fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and fish as well as on diet quality rather than a single nutrient or food group, the Mediterranean diet has now held that position for 8 consecutive years.

Among 20 other lifestyle and health categories, the Mediterranean diet also sat atop the ratings in 11 of these.

Meanwhile, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which is known for fighting high blood pressure and preventing or controlling diabetes, once again came in runner-up for best overall diet, according to U.S. News.

In the third and fourth spots, respectively, for best overall diet were the Flexitarian diet, a semi-vegetarian diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and plant-based protein, and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet, which combines elements of the DASH and Mediterranean diets with a focus on foods that improve brain health to potentially lower risk of mental decline.

U.S. News evaluated diets via a methodology it developed in partnership with The Harris Poll, the outlet stated. The methodology factored in evaluations from 69 expert panelists who included medical doctors, registered dietitians, nutritional epidemiologists, chefs, and weight loss researchers.

New this year, “Best Diets” utilized a 5-point rating system, “taking into account a wider array of health and lifestyle considerations, providing consumers with a more personalized assessment of various diets,” U.S. News stated.

The “updated rating evaluation system reflects the diverse needs and goals of individuals, considering factors beyond weight loss,” according to Gretel Schueller, MA, 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.”

Below are the top rated diets for 2025 in all 21 lifestyle and health categories. The full list and additional details on each diet are available here.

Best Overall Diets

• Mediterranean Diet (4.8)
• DASH Diet (4.6)
• Flexitarian Diet (4.5)
• MIND Diet (4.4)

Best Commercial Diet Programs

• Weight Watchers (4.6)
• Noom (4.1)

Best Diets for Arthritis

• Mediterranean Diet (4.6)
• Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet (4.4)
• MIND Diet (4.0)
• DASH Diet (3.7)

Best Diets for Brain Health and Cognition

• MIND Diet (4.7)
• Mediterranean Diet (4.6)
• Flexitarian Diet (3.9)
• DASH Diet (3.8)
• Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet (3.6)

Best Diets for Diabetes

• Mediterranean Diet (4.7)
• Flexitarian Diet (4.1)
• DASH Diet (3.8)
• MIND Diet (3.8)

Best Diets for Diverticulitis

• Mediterranean Diet (3.7)
• Flexitarian Diet (3.1)
• MIND Diet (3.1)
• Vegan Diet (3.1)

Best Diets for Fatty Liver

Best Diets for Gut Health

• Mediterranean Diet (4.3)
• DASH Diet (4.1)
• Flexitarian Diet (4.1)
• MIND Diet (4.1)
• Vegan Diet (4.1)

Best Diets for Healthy Eating

• Mediterranean Diet (4.9)
• DASH Diet (4.8)
• Flexitarian Diet (4.6)
• MIND Diet (4.6)

Best Diets for High Blood Pressure

• DASH Diet (4.9)
• Mediterranean Diet (4.7)

Best Diets for High Cholesterol

• Mediterranean Diet (4.7)
• DASH Diet (4.4)
• Vegan Diet (4.4)
• Flexitarian Diet (4.2)
• TLC Diet (4.2)

Best Diets for IBS

Best Diets for Inflammation

• Mediterranean Diet (4.7)
• Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet (4.6)
• Flexitarian Diet (4.6)
• DASH Diet (4.3)
• MIND Diet (4.2)

Best Diets for Menopause

• Menopause Diet (4.6)
• Mediterranean Diet (4.3)
• Flexitarian Diet (3.9)
• MIND Diet (3.9)
• DASH Diet (3.8)

Best Diets for Mental Health

• Mediterranean Diet (4.6)
• MIND Diet (4.4)
• Flexitarian Diet (3.8)
• DASH Diet (3.4)

Best Diets for Prediabetes

• Mediterranean Diet (4.7)
• DASH Diet (4.4)
• Flexitarian Diet (4.1)

Best Diets for Weight Loss

• Weight Watchers (4.3)
• Mediterranean Diet (3.9)
• Volumetrics (3.8)

Best Fast Weight-Loss Diets

• Jenny Craig Diet (3.7)
• Keto Diet (3.6)
• SlimFast Diet (3.6)
• Nutrisystem Diet (3.6)
• Weight Watchers (3.6)
• South Beach Diet (3.4)
• Atkins Diet (3.3)

Best Heart-Healthy Diets

• DASH Diet (4.9)
• Mediterranean Diet (4.8)
• Flexitarian Diet (4.3)
• MIND Diet (4.3)
• Vegan Diet (4.3)
• TLC Diet (4.2)
• Cleveland Clinic Diet (4.1)

Best Plant-Based Diets

• Flexitarian Diet (4.6)
• Mediterranean Diet (4.4)
• Vegan Diet (4.3)
• MIND Diet (4.0)

Easiest Diets to Follow

• Mediterranean Diet (4.7)
• Flexitarian Diet (4.5)
• DASH Diet (4.3)