Nutrition experts got together and ranked the best diets of 2017 - here are the top 12

If you're trying to make a healthy eating start to 2017, keep in mind that not all diets are created equal.

Often, the ones that garner the most attention aren't even among the best.

For its annual list, US News & World Report ranked 38 eating plans, considering different criteria including how easy the diet is to follow, its effects on weight loss (both short and long term), how nutritional and safe the diet is, and how well it helps prevent diabetes and heart disease.

The ranking drew on the expertise of a panel of dietitians and nutritionists, but didn't account for any costs associated with the diet plans, or how exercise fit into the programs.

Here's what diets ranked above the rest to make the top 10.