By Erica Lesperance, RD, LD

Every year, millions of Americans resolve to lose weight after the holidays. Many search for the latest diet program that promises to make them thinner, healthier, and happier. The choices are plentiful as clever marketers seek to capitalize on the post-holiday battle of the bulge by reining dieters in with their quick and easy weight loss plans. In 2007, we have seen a variety of new diets, such as The Cheaters Diet, The Flavor Point Diet, The Supermarket Diet, and The Longevity Diet. We have also seen old diets, such as Jenny Craig, NutriSystem, and Slim Fast, being marketed in new ways. But only one diet can receive the esteemed title of "Best of 2007." Find out here which diet is this year's recipient of The Diet Channel's esteemed award.

The Same Diet Reviews

Many articles compare and contrast the details of different diet programs, which usually results in the reporting of the same basic messages:

1. Some diets are more nutritionally sound and science-based than others
2. They all have their strengths and weaknesses
3. Their success rate depends on the personality, knowledge, and motivation level of the dieter.

So instead of getting bogged down with too many details, and before becoming overwhelmed with the inevitable influx of new diets in 2008, let's review the one diet that has stood the test of time as the most successful diet program: Weight Watchers.

2007 Diet of the Year

In study after study on dieters, those who follow a Weight Watchers plan enjoy the most long-term success. Perhaps this is because the program emphasizes a sensible diet consisting of ordinary, healthy foods, exercise, and a positive attitude. You are not required to purchase foods from Weight Watchers, so you learn about appropriate food choices and portion sizes with the foods you see in the grocery store and in restaurants. Therefore, it applies to your real life. Many diets offer one plan that is supposed to help everyone lose weight, but Weight Watchers acknowledges that we are all different and we need different diets based on our calorie needs and preferences. The programs are flexible, but always encourage eating selections from all the food groups, as well as reducing fat, increasing fiber, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and getting enough water and calcium.

The cornerstone of the Weight Watchers plan is its emphasis on support, whether it is online or in-person at group meetings and weigh-ins. Those who are willing to take the time to attend in-person group meetings, where you learn to have a healthier relationship with food, will likely be more successful than those who don't. In fact, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, people who attend meetings lose 3 times more weight than those who go it alone. However, because Weight Watchers recognizes that not everyone has the time or desire to attend group meetings, there is an online guide with interactive tools to help everyone follow their customized plan.

Not a Quick Fix

Those who are looking for a quick fix will not be successful on Weight Watchers. Weight Watchers builds the foundation for healthy eating and long-term weight maintenance by making healthy lifestyle choices around food and exercise. This is the right approach, and really the only way proven to lose weight and keep it off.

Back to the Basics

While Weight Watchers originated in 1960, it continues evolving to incorporate the latest and most reliable scientific research. At the same time, Weight Watchers has not compromised its basic philosophy that you can eat what you like, sensibly, and should never eliminate entire food groups or even specific foods completely. Thousands of fad diets have come and gone since 1960, but Weight Watchers has remained constant as the most successful plan, making it deserving of the title "Best Diet of 2007."