The Noom Diet: Is It Everything It’s Cracked Up to Be? Doctors Explain

The company prides itself on using a “psychology-based approach” to weight loss. Calling itself an anti-diet, it claims to use “science and personalization“ to help users lose weight and keep it off for good,” per the website. It provides a food log, an exercise tracker, one-on-one coaching, personalized “lessons,” support groups and coaching to keep dieters on track.

Users get a “calorie budget”

Aside from the calorie budget, foods are put into three categories: red, yellow or green. Although the app doesn’t encourage the elimination of any foods, it aims limit “red” foods (junk food such as sugars or unhealthy fats), to moderate “yellow” foods (proteins and complex carbs), and to indulge in “green foods” (mainly fruits and vegetables).

Features of and benefits of Noom

• Weekly challenges and nutrition “lessons”
• Progress-tracking tools such as meal, exercise, and body weight logs
• Virtual coaches (Noom circles are free internet-based communities, while individualized is an added cost)
• Biometric tracking to monitor blood sugar and blood pressure
• A seven-day free trial

Weight loss apps can be tricky to use, especially among an older crowd. However, The National Council on Aging considers Noom to be user-friendly, which makes it more accessible — especially to its older clientele. After navigating to the website, you’ll navigate to Noom Weight to start your free trial. After answering a few questions, you will be matched with someone who can help you craft a diet plan.

You can cancel Noom at any time

If you’re finding that Noom isn’t right for you, users can cancel their Noom subscriptions at any time. Simply open the app or navigate to the Subscription Portal to get started. The company’s website offers the following instructions to do so:

1. Open Noom and tap the hamburger menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner of the screen
2. Tap Settings
3. Tap Manage Subscription, before hitting cancel

Subscribers will be able to access the app until the end of the billing cycle, so it won’t be immediately inaccessible.

Weight Loss

Noom Med Offers GLP-1s, Alongside Personalized Care

In the ever-changing world of diet culture, losing weight with GLP-1s is changing the way we think about weight loss. But an integral part of losing weight — with or without the aid of semaglutide — is adopting healthy habits. Once GLP-1 patients start to taper from their prescribed dose of Ozempic or other drug […]

Noom regularly provides its users with recipes in the app, personalized to their dietary preferences and restrictions. But for those who don’t subscribe to the app, Noom features hundreds of recipes on its blog, for free.

From Mediterranean to paleo, there are so many options that anyone can access. Asian shrimp and orzo and a roundup of chocoholic recipes are just a few that caught our eye. The company even just released a cookbook, titled Noom Kitchen, which features 100 flexible and unique recipes that will keep things in the kitchen interesting, even while you’re on a weight loss journey.

Noom isn’t limited to those looking to lose weight naturally. Subscribers on weight loss medications such as Ozempic or Wegovy can opt for another type of program Noom Med, which has a more comprehensive medical intake process than Noom Weight. Noom Med is completely separate from Noom Weight’s program. Although it includes some holistic aspects of weight loss such as diet, it also includes a prescription for a GLP-1.

Patients will first meet virtually with clinicians, and complete a series of labs, including: a lipid panel, comprehensive metabolic panel, TSH, hemoglobin A1C, and fasting insulin. Together, you’ll be able to figure out a prescription that’s right for you, based what’s needed to achieve optimal metabolic health.

Noom Weight aims to teach users how to adhere to healthy habits. By learning about how to properly fuel and exercise one’s body, weight loss is likely.

“Weight loss from the Noom diet can be real and sustainable if you stick with the daily habits,” Dr. Mohr says. “This diet intends to promote balanced eating and regular exercise, which are key to long-term weight management. It doesn’t just focus on quick fixes but encourages gradual lifestyle changes.”

But, avoiding “crash diet” habits is crucial

Oftentimes, diets don’t work because of unsustainable “crash diet” habits. Think: starvation, major restrictions and over exercise. By creating attainable goals from the app, Dr. Mohr says, weight loss can be both healthy and long-term.

“As long as you are making positive, healthy habit changes that are recommended, avoid extreme calorie restrictions and maintain a healthy approach to exercise, your weight loss can be healthy,” he explains. “However, if you’re not benefitting both physically and emotionally, seeking personal help from a Registered Dietitian, may be a wise idea.”

The program intends to provide sustainable life habits

The primary goal of Noom is to lose weight, which it does through determining your personal “weight loss zone,” and encouraging users to adhere to a low daily caloric intake (around 1,200 calories a day for women). But, it also aims to leave dieters with lifelong healthy habits. The app encourages daily exercise and increased water intake, while providing frequent health and nutrition “lessons.” These are all steps towards helping dieters form sustainable healthy habits for long-term wellness.

Mindy Haar, RDN, Ph.D., Assistant Dean at New York Institute of Technology’s School of Health Professions, tells Woman’s World that for just weight loss, it could be a useful tool.

“We, as health professionals, have certainly seen that different strategies work for different people and as Noom is in sync with my approach to weight loss and management I could see mentioning it to those I counsel as a resource and possible beneficial tool. However, many individuals, especially those with chronic diseases, may need more comprehensive nutrition counseling than just joining Noom in order to ensure that the foods they are choosing are optimal.”

Weight Loss

Is Trulicity or Ozempic Better for Weight Loss? Experts Weigh In

With so many different GLP-1 medications on the market, it can be hard to determine the best one to manage your blood sugar and aid weight loss. Two popular options? Ozempic and Trulicity. While both are effective GLP-1 drugs, one stands out as a clear winner when it comes to faster and more effective weight […]

For those who opt for Noom Med, which is for users on GLP-1s, it’s an added $49 monthly. This does not cover the price of the GLP-1.

“The price might be worth it if you benefit from the structure, coaching, and educational content,” Mohr explains.

If you need a program that keeps you accountable and helps you learn about healthy habits, it can be a good investment. However, if you’re self-motivated and already know and are practicing positive, daily habits around nutrition and exercise, you might find similar results with free or cheaper choices. It really just depends on your personal needs and financial situation.”

Dr. Mohr

The cost may be worth it 

Some people might thrive without much instruction, but others may need extra guidance on a weight loss journey. For those who identify as the latter, an in-depth program like Noom may be useful.

“The price might be worth it if you benefit from the structure, coaching, and educational content. If you need a program that keeps you accountable and helps you learn about healthy habits, it can be a good investment,” Dr. Mohr explains. “However, if you’re self-motivated and already know and are practicing positive, daily habits around nutrition and exercise, you might find similar results with free or cheaper choices. It really just depends on your personal needs and financial situation.”

Pros

• The app caters to each person
• Lessons and challenges promotes nutrition education
• The configuration makes it relatively user-friendly
• Using its diet plan may result in weight loss
• Promotes life-long healthy habits such as hydrating and exercise
• Users supposedly get a good bang for their buck with individualized attention

Cons

• Any resulting eight loss may be simply be due to calorie restriction
• Restrictiveness may lead to disordered eating habits and yo-yo dieting
• It’s expensive

Noom is a well-established health and fitness program that encourages weight loss through nutrition education and caloric restrictions. It provides support to its users with an online community and optional one-on-one assistance, and it’s relatively easy-to-use. Due to the cost and restrictiveness, it has it’s downsides, so it may not be right for everyone. However, it can be useful for anyone looking to lose weight on their own.

“We, as health professionals, have certainly seen that different strategies work for different people and as Noom is in sync with my approach to weight loss and management I could see mentioning it to those I counsel as a resource and possible beneficial tool,” Dr. Haar says. “However, many individuals, especially those with chronic diseases, may need more comprehensive nutrition counseling than just joining Noom in order to ensure that the foods they are choosing are optimal.”

Woman’s World wants to hear YOUR experiences with Noom, or your experiences with prescription weight loss or telehealth in general. Email us at reviews@womansworld.com, we’d love to talk to you.