What are the best diets for 2018?

It is estimated that around 45 million people in the United States go on a diet each year, with weight loss being the primary goal.

However, whether you're dieting to lose weight or simply to improve overall health, sticking to a specific eating plan can be challenging. With so many diets to choose from, how can you tell which one will work for you?

U.S. News & World Report put together a panel of health experts every year to evaluate the most popular diets in the U.S.

This year, the experts assessed 40 diets, ranking them from lowest to highest in seven categories, including the best diets for weight loss, diabetes, and heart health. So, we take a look at some of the key
The best diets for weight loss
For the majority of dieters, weight loss is the ultimate goal, but losing weight and keeping it off is far from easy.

Research suggests that approximately 30–35 percent of weight lost from dieting is regained within 1 year. But it is possible to maintain weight loss. It's just a matter of finding the right eating plan.

The U.S. News & World Report panel of experts evaluated 40 popular diets for their effects on both short- and long-term weight loss, noting that some people want to lose weight quickly, while others want to maintain their weight loss for years to come.

The health experts rated Weight Watchers as the best diet on both accounts, scoring 4 out of 5 for short-term weight loss, and 3.5 out of 5 for long-term weight loss.