Dante Carrillo
Noom is a digital weight loss program and mobile app that matches users with a certified health coach. It uses a traffic light system to indicate which foods users should eat more of and which they should avoid. The app provides feedback and guidance based on the foods users choose and their activity in tandem with their weight loss goals. Noom emphasizes choosing foods with a low calorie density, which may be an effective strategy for weight loss. However, the way the foods are tagged is somewhat different from the 2020-2025 US Dietary Guidelines recommendations. For example, fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are labeled green, while lean proteins and low-fat dairy are tagged yellow. While Noom may be a good fit for some people, it is important to carefully consider its advantages and disadvantages before downloading and beginning the program.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet type | Weight loss |
| Diet approach | Behaviour change, not a quick fix |
| Food categorisation | Green, yellow, orange, and red |
| Green foods | Fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, salads, mixed grain bowls, and tacos |
| Yellow foods | Lean proteins, low-fat dairy, lean meat, and starches like turkey breast, grilled chicken, tuna, salmon, and lean beef, eggs, black beans, and chickpeas |
| Orange foods | Healthy fats like olive oil, nuts, and nut butter |
| Red foods | Oils, seeds, nuts and nut butters, dessert dishes, red meats, frozen entrees, jerky, dried fruits, crackers, bagels, and protein powders |
| Tracking | Logging meals, snacks, and daily weights |
| Additional services | Custom workout and meal plans |
| Cost | $50-$70 per month |
| Health benefits | Weight loss, diabetes prevention, and lower BMI |
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What You'll Learn
- Noom's weight loss and health app offers a free trial but is costly to subscribe to
- Noom's colour-coded food system is different from the 2020-2025 US Dietary Guidelines
- Noom's health coaches are approved by the NCCHWC but not all are certified nutritionists
- Noom's benefits include building self-awareness, accountability and habits for a healthier lifestyle
- Noom's downsides include the time-consuming nature of tracking and the potential for disordered eating
Noom's weight loss and health app offers a free trial but is costly to subscribe to
Noom is a weight loss and health app that offers a free trial for those who want to test it out before committing to a subscription. The app integrates psychology, technology, and coaching to help individuals build healthier eating habits and achieve sustainable weight loss. It offers a unique approach to weight loss, focusing on behaviour change rather than a quick fix. It also provides a community aspect, allowing users to connect with others on similar journeys.
While Noom offers a free trial, the subscription costs can be quite high. As of 2022, a full membership costs around $50 per month and is designed to last for 16 weeks. Noom also offers a monthly auto-renewing subscription for $70, and an annual auto-renewing plan for $209, which is about $17.42 per month. These costs do not include any optional add-ons, such as behaviour change coaching, weight loss medications, custom meal plans, or custom workout routines.
Noom's weight loss program has been around for over 15 years and has a large following of users who have successfully lost weight while using the app. The app offers a comprehensive curriculum that stands out from other weight loss programs with its psychology-based approach. It focuses on an individual's long-term habits and mindset, offering daily lessons, a colour-coded food system, and personalized support. Noom encourages users to eat more "green" foods, which are low in calorie density and high in nutrient density. It also provides users with a vast food database, thousands of healthy recipes, and meal plans from registered dietitians.
While Noom has been successful for many, it may not be the best fit for everyone. The recommended tracking can be time-consuming and cumbersome for some, and it may not be suitable for those with special dietary needs or those looking to spend less time on their phones. Additionally, the way foods are tagged differs from the 2020-2025 US Dietary Guidelines recommendations. For example, lean proteins and low-fat dairy are tagged yellow, while healthy fats like olive oil and nuts are classified as orange. Despite these differences, Noom has proven effective for many, with one review showing that almost 80% of people successfully lost weight while using the app.
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Noom's colour-coded food system is different from the 2020-2025 US Dietary Guidelines
Noom is a mobile app that can be downloaded on smartphones or tablets. It is a lifestyle and weight loss app that focuses on behavioural changes. It uses an algorithm to estimate your daily calorie needs based on your sex, age, height, weight, and answers to a questionnaire. It also provides measurements like basal metabolic rate, body fat mass, lean mass, and weight-to-height ratio.
The 2020-2025 US Dietary Guidelines, on the other hand, do not follow this colour-coded system. While Noom encourages eating green and yellow foods, the Guidelines recommend including lean proteins and low-fat dairy, tagged yellow on the Noom app, as part of a healthy diet. Healthy fats like olive oil, nuts, and nut butter are classified as orange on Noom but are not restricted in the Guidelines.
The Noom app helps users set personal goals and track what they eat. It is a subscription health app that combines meal and exercise tracking with virtual coaching and education to promote behavioural changes for a healthier lifestyle. While Noom may be a good fit for some, it is important to note that it can be costly, time-consuming, and stressful for some users. Additionally, those with special dietary needs may benefit more from working directly with a specialist.
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Noom's health coaches are approved by the NCCHWC but not all are certified nutritionists
Noom is a mobile app that can be downloaded on smartphones and tablets. It is a lifestyle and weight loss program that uses a colour-coded approach to nutrition. The app helps users set personal goals and track what they eat. It also provides ongoing support from certified health coaches. While Noom's health coaches are approved by the National Consortium for Credentialing Health and Wellness Coaches (NCCHWC), not all of them are certified nutritionists, registered dietitians, personal trainers, or doctors.
Noom's health coach training platform, "Noomiversity", is an approved transition program with the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC). Coaches have the option to enroll in Noom's Health Coach Certification Program (HCCP) and sit for the HWC Certifying Examination to become a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). The program combines lecture-style teaching on theoretical concepts of coaching with experiential activities.
It is important to note that Noom's approach to food tagging is different from the 2020-2025 US Dietary Guidelines recommendations. For example, fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are labeled green, while lean proteins and low-fat dairy are tagged yellow. Healthy fats like olive oil, nuts, and nut butter are classified as orange. This approach may work for some people, but it could also lead to disordered eating habits or an unhealthy relationship with food.
The cost of Noom is a potential downside, with prices starting at $50 per month for a full membership. The app also offers additional services for extra costs, such as customized workout and meal plans. While Noom may be effective for weight loss, it is not a quick fix, and the recommended tracking can be time-consuming and stressful for some users.
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Noom's benefits include building self-awareness, accountability and habits for a healthier lifestyle
Noom is a mobile app that focuses on behavioural changes to encourage a healthier lifestyle. It does not prescribe a specific diet but instead uses a colour-coded system for tracking food. It encourages users to eat more "green" foods, which are the least calorie-dense and most nutrient-dense options, such as vegetables and whole grains. "Yellow" foods, including lean meats and starches, are to be consumed in moderation, while "orange" foods, like red meats and desserts, are the most calorie-dense and should be eaten in smaller portions less frequently. This system helps users build self-awareness about the nutritional value of different foods and makes them more mindful of their choices.
Noom also provides tools for logging meals, setting up an exercise regimen, and tracking body weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels. It offers weekly challenges and educational information on topics such as nutrition fundamentals, stress management, goal setting, and healthy habit formation. The app includes features like Noom Vibe, a habit tracker and wellness community, and Noom Mood, a 16-week program to manage stress and build emotional awareness. These tools help users develop healthier habits and hold them accountable for their choices and actions.
The app also offers a virtual coaching team and interest-based communities, known as Noom Communities, to provide support and guidance. Users can connect with others through video chats, phone calls, and in-app messaging, creating a sense of accountability and community. Additionally, Noom encourages food logging and weekly weigh-ins, which are associated with weight loss and long-term weight maintenance.
According to Noom, users can expect to lose 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) per week, and a 2016 study found that Noom was effective for weight loss in nearly 78% of users. However, it's important to note that individual results may vary depending on factors such as diet, lifestyle, health status, and activity level. Noom's focus on behavioural changes and building self-awareness, combined with its accountability features and habit-forming tools, offers a comprehensive approach to helping users adopt and maintain a healthier lifestyle.
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Noom's downsides include the time-consuming nature of tracking and the potential for disordered eating
Noom is a mobile app that focuses on behavioural changes and calls itself a lifestyle rather than a diet. It offers a free trial and then costs $50 per month for a full membership. Noom encourages users to choose foods with low-calorie density and promotes long-term behavioural changes. It also provides support and helps users set personal goals and track what they eat.
However, Noom has some downsides. Firstly, the recommended tracking can be time-consuming, cumbersome, and stressful for some people. The manual food logging can be a burden, especially for those who are trying to spend less time on their phones. The app also does not offer in-person interactions with coaches or other Noom members, and there are concerns about the low-calorie goals and the potential pitfalls of food tracking.
Additionally, there are potential issues with the food tracker and the app's functionality, as well as dissatisfaction with the responsiveness and level of support offered by Noom guides. Some users have noted that the coaching messages seemed automated, and there are concerns about the accessibility of the coaching. There have also been complaints about the lack of food in the tracking database, which can make it challenging for those with special dietary needs.
Another concern is that Noom markets itself as anti-diet and perfect for those tired of trying diets that don't work, but in reality, it is a low-calorie diet. This contradiction can be problematic, especially for individuals in eating disorder recovery who are seeking a peaceful relationship with food while also wanting to lose weight. Noom's messaging and use of intuitive eating language can be triggering for those in recovery, and its recommendations can be harmful, such as advising breastfeeding women to eat less.
Overall, while Noom may be a good fit for some, it is important to consider these potential downsides and seek specialised support if needed, especially for those with dietary restrictions or eating disorders.
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Frequently asked questions
Noom is a digital weight loss program that can be accessed through an app. It emphasizes behaviour change rather than a quick fix and encourages users to choose foods with low-calorie density.
Noom uses an algorithm to estimate your daily calorie needs based on your sex, age, height, weight, and activity level. It separates "good" and "bad" foods by assigning colours to different food groups. The green foods are the healthiest, followed by yellow and orange, while red foods are the most calorie-dense and should be limited.
Noom offers a lot of features not available with other weight loss approaches, such as virtual coaching and education to support behaviour change. It also provides accurate measurements of your body and helps you to understand the relationship between your feelings, thoughts, and behaviour. Small studies have also shown potential benefits of Noom for diabetes.
Noom can be costly, with a full membership costing about $50 per month. The recommended tracking of meals and weight can also be time-consuming, cumbersome, and stressful for some people. The colour-coding approach to food may also cause problems and lead to an unhealthy relationship with food.
