Noom Diet: What It Is And How It Works

what does noom diet mean

Noom is a subscription-based weight-loss service that combines food tracking with cognitive behavioural therapy and individualized coaching. It is a psychology-based program that operates with the core belief of balance. The Noom diet separates foods into three categories: green, yellow, and red. Green foods are the most nutritious, yellow foods are slightly less so, and red foods are the most calorie-dense. The diet is flexible and inclusive, allowing users to eat anything they want, but encouraging them to be mindful of their choices and make healthier decisions.

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Noom is a subscription-based weight-loss service

The Noom diet is comprised of evidence-based information, trained cognitive behaviour coaches, simple tracking tools, and a user-friendly interface. The diet breaks items into three categories: green, yellow, and red. The green foods are the best, yellow foods are slightly less nutritious, and red foods are the most calorie-dense. Ideally, your diet is made up of mostly green foods, some yellow foods, and a limited amount of red foods.

The Noom app does not explicitly restrict any foods, but it does recommend eating more green foods and fewer red foods. The app makes it clear which foods to eat and which to avoid, and it can be adapted to suit a range of dietary requirements, such as halal, kosher, vegan, or low-carb.

Noom is promoted as building self-awareness, accountability, and habits that can lead to healthy weight loss and maintenance. It is touted as "the last weight-loss program you'll ever need", and it has quickly become one of the most popular weight-loss apps, with over 45 million users worldwide.

Noom is not intended for anyone under 18, pregnant people, or those with an eating disorder.

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It uses a traffic light system to categorise foods

The Noom diet uses a traffic light system to categorise foods into three categories: green, yellow, and red. Green foods are the most nutritious and calorie-light, and dieters are encouraged to eat as much of these as they like. Green foods include vegetables, whole grains, fruits, salads, mixed grain bowls, and tacos.

Yellow foods are slightly less nutritious and/or have more calories than green foods. They can be incorporated into your diet but not as frequently as green foods. Examples of yellow foods include lean meats such as turkey breast, grilled chicken, tuna, salmon, and lean beef, as well as vegetarian and vegan-friendly protein sources like eggs, black beans, and chickpeas.

Red foods are the most calorie-dense and should be eaten in limited quantities. Red foods include simple carbs like white bread and pasta, hot dog buns, pita, and biscuits. Full-fat dairy products like butter, whole milk, cream, cream cheese, and cottage cheese are also red foods.

The Noom diet is more than just a diet; it's a program designed to help users lose weight by understanding their eating habits and creating new, more sustainable ones. It takes a psychology-based approach, combining food tracking with cognitive behavioural therapy and individualized coaching to help users achieve their goals.

While Noom does not prescribe a specific way of eating, it emphasizes healthy eating habits, such as increasing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It also includes limited personalized coaching services, but these may not be provided by a registered dietitian or healthcare professional.

The Noom diet has been touted as "the last weight-loss program you'll ever need," but it may not be suitable for everyone. It requires self-motivation and self-discipline, and those who struggle with accountability or need more structured guidance may find it less effective. Additionally, it is not recommended for individuals with a history of eating disorders or other medical conditions that affect weight loss.

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It is not suitable for everyone

Noom is not suitable for everyone. The ideal user is probably someone with a busy lifestyle who enjoys virtual support and accountability. It requires self-motivation and self-discipline, which may be challenging for some users. Those who struggle with accountability or need more structured guidance may find Noom less effective.

Noom is not intended for anyone under 18, pregnant people, or those with an eating disorder. It could bring up deeper emotions and unresolved feelings that require a higher level of support. The app does not limit how much weight you can lose based on your personal information, which may lead to the belief that you can lose dangerous amounts of weight. If you have a medical condition that makes it harder to lose weight, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, you may want to skip Noom and consult a nutritionist or your doctor instead.

The app and need to track your food could be difficult or triggering for some people. The labelling of "good" and "bad" foods or the use of a traffic light system to indicate “green”, “yellow”, and “red” foods can be a concern for some health experts. While Noom does not prescribe a specific way of eating, it emphasizes healthy eating habits, such as increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. However, the calorie-density approach doesn’t take into account how filling, delicious, and healthful many high-calorie-dense foods are.

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It is a psychology-based program

Noom is a subscription-based weight-loss service that combines food tracking with cognitive behavioural therapy and individualized coaching to help users achieve their goals. It is a psychology-based program that operates with the core belief of balance. The program is designed to help users lose weight by understanding why they eat what they eat and how to create new, more sustainable eating habits. It is promoted as building self-awareness, accountability, and habits that can lead to healthy weight loss and maintenance.

The Noom diet is comprised of evidence-based information, trained cognitive behaviour coaches, simple tracking tools, and a user-friendly interface. The diet breaks items into three categories: green, yellow, and red. The green foods are the best, yellow foods are slightly less nutritious, and red foods are the most calorie-dense. Ideally, a diet following the Noom program is comprised of mostly green foods, some yellow foods, and a limited amount of red foods. However, Noom does not restrict any food groups and users are not asked to give up their favourite foods.

The program relies heavily on self-motivation and self-discipline, which may be challenging for some users. It is not intended for anyone under 18, pregnant people, or those with an eating disorder. Noom initially recommended a minimum of 1,200 calories per day for females and 1,400 calories per day for males, but has since increased those minimums by 10%. The app's labeling of "good" and "bad" foods is a concern for some health experts. While Noom does not prescribe a specific way of eating, it emphasizes healthy eating habits, such as increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

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Noom is a subscription-based weight-loss app that has gained immense popularity since its inception in 2008, now boasting more than 45 million users worldwide. Unlike other diets that focus solely on the physical aspects of weight loss, Noom claims to take a psychology-based approach, combining food tracking with cognitive behavioural therapy and individualized coaching to help users achieve their goals.

The Noom app combines meal and exercise tracking with virtual coaching and education to help users make behavioural changes for a healthier lifestyle. It separates foods into three categories: green, yellow, and red. Green foods are the most nutritious and have no calorie limit, while yellow foods are slightly less nutritious, and red foods are the most calorie-dense. The app encourages users to eat mostly green foods, some yellow foods, and a limited amount of red foods. However, it does not restrict any food groups and allows users to eat their favourite foods in moderation.

The app provides limited personalized coaching services, but these may not be provided by registered dietitians or healthcare professionals. It is ideal for users with busy lifestyles who enjoy virtual support and accountability. However, it requires self-motivation and self-discipline, and may not be suitable for those who need more structured guidance or have a history of eating disorders.

Noom has received recognition as one of the U.S. News & World Report's Best Diets of 2025. It has also been scrutinized for its marketing tactics and complaints regarding its free-trial cancellation. The cost of the subscription is about $70 a month, which may be a concern for some users.

Frequently asked questions

Noom is a subscription-based weight-loss service that combines technology, human coaching, and psychology to help users achieve their goals. It is promoted as building self-awareness, accountability, and habits that can lead to healthy weight loss and maintenance.

The Noom diet uses a traffic light system to categorize foods into three color-coded groups (green, yellow, and orange) based on their calorie content and nutritional makeup. The goal is to shift away from foods with high caloric and low-nutrient density. It also involves tracking meals, exercise, and weight through the Noom app.

Green category foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, egg whites, and non-fat dairy. Yellow foods include lean meats, low-fat dairy products, and legumes. Orange foods are calorie-dense, such as simple carbs, full-fat dairy, sweets, and sugar-sweetened beverages.

The Noom diet is suitable for people looking to build healthier habits and achieve sustainable weight loss. However, it is not intended for anyone under 18, pregnant individuals, or those with eating disorders. Additionally, the app's labeling of "good" and "bad" foods may be triggering for some people.

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