Noom is a digital health company best-known for its weight loss plans.
The company uses a combination of psychology, technology, and coaching to help millions of users meet health and wellness goals.
Does Noom live up to the hype? How do Noom’s weight loss plans really work? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Noom today in our review.
What is Noom?
Noom is a health and wellness company found online at Noom.com.
Founded in 2008, Noom offers a subscription-based app to track your food intake and exercise habits to help you reach your health and wellness goals.
Unlike other weight loss programs, Noom focuses on behavioral change and mental wellness. Instead of simply depriving you of calories or forcing you to exercise for hours each day, Noom advocates long-lasting, behavioral change for meaningful results.
Noom’s subscription is priced at around $17 to $70 per month, depending on which subscription plan you choose. You can cancel at any time.
To justify its price, Noom recommends comparing your subscription to a monthly gym membership or a pair of nice running shoes. Some compare Noom to getting a weight loss coach, nutrition coach, and behavioral health specialist rolled into one.
Noom Benefits
Noom aims to offer proven weight loss benefits using the latest advances in psychotherapy. Some of the unique benefits of Noom include:
- 50 million app downloads to date
- Track food and exercise to reach your target weight
- Daily psychotherapy lessons to tackle the root cause of weight management issues
- Relieve stress, boost mood, and lose weight using targeted programs
- Noom Med for weight loss prescriptions and doctor-recommended weight loss
- 78% success rate according to 2016 trial
Jumpstart your weight loss journey. Join Noom now!
How Does Noom Work?
You get started with Noom by answering questions on Noom.com about your health. You’ll tell Noom your current weight, your target weight, and your previous experience with dieting and weight loss.
After completing the 15-minute quiz, you receive a customized plan to help you reach your target weight. That plan typically lasts for around 16 weeks (four months) and includes a suggested calorie range for each day, your expected weight loss results over time, and more.
If you like the plan and want to get started, then you can sign up for Noom’s plans, which cost between $17.42 per month (paid annually) and $70 per month (paid monthly). Al plans come with a 7 to 14 day trial, depending on your subscription option.
Once your subscription is active, you complete daily tasks to help you reach your weight loss goals, including:
Daily Lessons Based on Behavioral Science: Losing weight isn’t just about lowering calories and exercising more. Instead, it’s about changing your relationship with food. You start every day with 5 to 15 minutes of quick, digestible lessons based on the latest advances in behavioral science. You’ll learn about mood, sleep, stress management, and self-care, among other factors that affect your health and wellness. Why were you tempted to eat that cookie after the team meeting? Why do you tend to eat more when eating in front of your TV? Noom explores the root causes of weight management via cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), among other psychotherapy trends.
Log Food to Stay On Track: The second part of Noom involves a food logging system to help you stay on track. Many diets fail because they completely cut out foods or food groups – like bread or carbs. Some simply tell you to lower your daily calorie intake without explaining how. Noom breaks down all the foods you eat into orange, yellow, and green categories based on their caloric density (CD). You log everything you eat into the Noom app – but no food is off limits.
Access the Noom Coaches & Community: Another important part of your Noom subscription is access to Noom’s coaches and community. Noom’s coaches can help you identify your goals and stick with them. Your Noom coach checks in once a week (or more frequently, if you like) to check your progress. You can also message your Noom coach 24/7 through the Noom Weight app. Plus, you get access to a community of like-minded people who are also trying to lose weight.
Track Exercise: Noom lets you gradually incorporate exercise into your routine if you’re ready. You can start with 200 steps per day (each Noom Weight app comes with a step tracker or pedometer), then increase your daily steps. Or, you can start at a higher level. Plus, Noom integrates with Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, and many popular fitness apps.
Track Weight, Water Intake, Blood Sugar, and Blood Pressure: The Noom Weight app also lets you track crucial information about your body, including information about weight, water intake, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
Access Recipes & Meal Planning Information: The Noom Weight recipe database has 1,000+ recipes from which to choose. You can sort recipes based on their color code, emphasizing green recipes for better health and wellness. The Noom recipe tracker automatically tracks the total calories per serving, making it easy to track what you eat without manually inputting each ingredient.
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How Noom Works for Weight Loss
When you sign up for Noom, you receive a comprehensive wellness plan to help you reach your target weight.
Noom designs its weight loss plans to help you lose one to two pounds each week.
Unlike other diets, however, Noom doesn’t prevent you from eating specific things. In fact, no food is off limits with Noom. Instead, foods are coded with green, yellow, or orange based on their healthiness.
After you complete the 15-minute quiz with Noom, you receive a 16-week program to help you make better food choices. Each morning, you also complete psychology lessons to help understand the root causes of eating behavior.
As you progress through the 16-week program, you continue to input your food and exercise into the app, complete daily psychotherapy lessons, and talk to your coaches each week. By the end of the 16 weeks, you may have reached your target weight. Or, you may decide you have more work to do.
What Foods Can I Eat with Noom?
Noom allows you to eat anything, and no food is off limits with Noom. Instead, Noom separates foods into three categories based on whether they’re green, yellow, or orange.
Foods you can eat with Noom include:
Green Foods
Ideally, Noom wants you to eat mostly green foods. These foods are packed with nutrients while containing lower-than-average amounts of calories. Green foods include:
- Vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and bell peppers
- Fruits like apples, bananas, and strawberries
- Whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, and whole grain bread
- Dairy like non-fat yogurt, non-fat cheese, skim milk, and unsweetened almond milk
- Protein like tofu
Noom: Your partner in wellness. Sign up today!
Yellow Foods
Yellow foods have fewer nutrients and more calories than green foods, but they’re not as bad as orange foods. You can eat these foods in moderate amounts, but you should still try to ensure green foods make up the bulk of your diet. Available yellow foods include:
- Proteins like grilled chicken, turkey breast, lean ground beef, and eggs
- Fish like tuna and salmon
- Dairy like Greek yogurt and low-fat cheese
- Legumes like black beans and chickpeas
- Grains like whole grain tortillas
Orange Foods
Orange foods have more calories and fewer nutrients. You should eat relatively few of these foods compared to yellow and green foods. Available orange foods include:
- Oils like olive oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil
- Seeds like flaxseed, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds
- Nuts like almonds, cashews, and walnuts
- Nut butters like peanut butter and almond butter
Noom’s green, yellow, and orange ranking system is based on the caloric density (CD) of food. Foods with low-calorie density are filling but low in calories, making them ideal for weight loss. That’s why many of the green foods are low-calorie vegetables, proteins, and fruits. They keep you fuller for longer, helping you naturally eat fewer calories throughout the day.
While subscribed to Noom, you enter everything you eat into the Noom app. The app shows you exactly what you ate each day, including the number of calories of green, yellow, and orange food.
If Noom gives you a calorie target of 2,000 calories per day, for example, to reach your weight loss goals, then you might want to get 1,000 calories from green foods, 667 calories from yellow foods, and 333 calories from green foods. Enter your foods into the Noom app to see how close you are to completing each category.
Related: Best Weight Loss Apps
Noom Features
There are plenty of weight loss apps and subscription-based health plans available today. What makes Noom unique? Why pick Noom over other weight loss plans?
Here are some of the features that distinguish Noom from other services available today:
Backed by Science: Noom is backed by 40+ peer-reviewed scientific articles, and the company’s medical advisory team includes health experts with PhDs and master’s degrees in psychology, neuroscience, and statistics. One 2016 study involved 36,000 Noom users, for example, and found 78% of users reported losing weight with Noom.
Endorsed by CDC: Noom recently became the first app endorsed by the CDC to help prevent diabetes.
Competitive Pricing: Noom is priced anywhere from $17 to $70 per month, depending on your subscription plan. The longer you subscribe to Noom, the more you save (annual plans cost $209 or $17 per month, for example, while month-to-month plans cost $70).
7 to 14 Day “Pay What You Want” Trial: Noom offers one of the most unique trials in the weight loss industry. The company lets you “pay what you want” for your 7 to 14 day trial. It costs Noom around $10 to offer the trial to users, and you can pay more or less than that amount. If you don’t like Noom or if the program didn’t work for you, then you can cancel your trial – and receive a refund on the amount you paid for the trial.
Calorie Deficit Calculator: Noom offers an easy-to-use, instant calorie deficit calculator at Noom.com. You can use that calculator to easily find out your BMR and discover your weight loss zone. You input your age, sex, current weight, height, activity level, and other information to calculate the number of calories per day you should be eating to achieve results.
Noom for Work: Noom offers Noom for Work, partnering with employers across the United States to offer psychology-based behavior changes among employees. According to Noom, Noom for Work is “an investment in well-being that delivers real cost savings.” Employers help their employees lost weight and save on covering healthcare costs for those employees in the future. In fact, Noom claims its weight loss program can generate more than 2x ROI for users with a 25 BMI score and above – and they even have an online calculator to determine how much money you could save as an employer.
Macros Calculator: Noom also offers a macronutrient calculator that works similar to the calorie deficit calculator. You input information about your age, weight, and goals, then receive specific information about the carbs, protein, and fat you should be eating to reach your target weight.
Noom Med: Noom recently launched a healthcare program called Noom Med. Noom Med can help you overcome your body’s biological barriers to weight loss. You receive personalized medical solutions for transformational weight loss – including prescription medications for weight loss, if deemed appropriate. If you want a prescription for Ozempic to manage your weight, for example, then you could get that prescription through Noom Med.
Noom Mood: Noom has launched a mental wellness program called Noom Mood. The step-by-step program lets you tackle mental wellness using proven techniques with the goal of helping you live a happier, healthier life.
Message Your Coach 24/7: Your Noom subscriptions includes weekly meetings with your coach. However, you can meet with your coach more frequently if you like. In fact, you can message your coach 24/7 through the app. If you have a question about a specific food, for example, or need ideas for a healthy snack, then you can easily contact your coach.
50 Million Downloads Since Launch: Noom launched its app in 2013, and the app has been downloaded 50 million times since.
Take the 15 Minute Noom Quiz: Noom offers a 15-minute quiz to provide customized information about your health and wellness goals, the time it could take for you to reach those goals, and more. Just take the 15-minute quiz to get started.
1,000+ Recipes: Your Noom subscription includes access to a recipe book with 1,000+ recipes. Those recipes are designed to align with Noom’s weight loss system and include green dishes and ingredients.
Scientific Evidence for Noom
Noom is backed by concrete evidence proving it works. Many users have successfully lost weight – and kept it off – using Noom. The company also uses science-backed psychotherapy techniques and other proven approaches for meaningful weight loss. We’ll review some of the science behind Noom below.
In a 2016 study published in Scientific Reports, researchers published data collected from 36,000 Noom users. Here’s what that study found:
- The study analyzed 36,000 Noom users, including 78% female and 22% male users
- 78% of users self-reported losing weight with Noom
- The median number of days users reported their weight was 267 (around 9 months)
- Data was collected between October 2012 and April 2014
- Males tended to report a higher starting BMI and greater weight loss than females
It’s been over a decade since the study began, and Noom has only improved since then. Today, the company continues to offer science-backed weight loss guidance to help users reach meaningful health and wellness goals.
According to Noom’s Research page, for example, the company’s work is backed by 40+ peer-reviewed scientific articles. Plus, the company’s team includes health experts with PhDs and master’s degrees in psychology, neuroscience, and statistics.
One of the most recent studies on Noom and weight loss is scheduled to be published in the near future. An introduction to that trial was initially published in JMIR Research Protocols in 2022. Researchers analyzed the effectiveness of Noom’s weight loss over a two year period by analyzing a random group of 600 users between 2021 and 2022. The final results are expected to be published in the near future, giving greater insight into how Noom works for weight loss.
As a testament to Noom’s effectiveness, the CDC recognized Noom in 2017 as a way to prevent diabetes. Noom was the first mobile app to receive this mark of approval from the CDC.
Achieve your health goals with Noom. Register now!
Noom Med
Interested in prescription medication for weight loss? Want to use the latest advances in medicine to overcome your body’s natural barriers to weight? Noom Med can help.
Noom Med is eligible to people with a BMI of 30 or higher, or to anyone with a BMI greater than or equal to 27 with a weight-related medical condition. Noom Med includes:
- A health evaluation from a board-certified physician or a physician-supervised nurse practitioner
- Comprehensive lab work
- A custom care plan specific to your concerns, biology, and health goals
- The potential for prescription medication if appropriate
Prescription weight loss medication is the right choice for some patients but not others. Doctors could prescribe weight loss medication like Ozempic, Victoza, Trulicity, or Bydureon, if appropriate. Or, doctors can prescribe the GLP-1/GIP medication Mounjaro.
Noom Mood
Noom also recently launched an emotional wellness program called Noom Mood.
The goal of Noom Mood is to help you manage stress, develop emotional awareness, and foster resilience to live a happier life.
Some of the perks of Noom Mood include:
- Receive mindfulness-based techniques and skills to improve your progress
- Use daily mood logging to understand your progress
- Gain practical knowledge and insights you can implement today
- Enjoy structure on your terms without a one-size-fits-all approach
- 10-minute daily lessons to conveniently fit Noom Mood into your schedule
Lessons rooted in psychological principles for meaningful behavioral change, improved resilience, better sleep, less stress, and other benefits
Read real customer reviews – click here!
Noom Reviews: What Do Customers Say?
Noom has over 50 million app downloads to date, and it’s one of the biggest and best-known names in the weight loss community. We’ll explore some of the newest reviews for Noom below to see if it’s still effective in 2023.
Healthline gave Noom a 3.7 star rating out of 5. The program scored strong marks for its weight loss effectiveness and emphasis on nutrition. However, the website criticized Noom for focusing more on improving weight loss instead of improving overall health.
Noom has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, although the company also has a 1.27 star out of 5 rating with 400+ customer reviews. Many customers expressed frustration cancelling their Noom subscription and dealing with customer service. Overall, the Noom BBB page has 1,200+ complaints in the last three years and 600+ complaints in the last 12 months.
A Forbes writer gave strong marks to Noom, claiming to have lost 7lbs in one month with the program. That writer praised Noom for explaining the psychology behind eating habits, making it easier to achieve long-term results. Overall, the writer described her Noom subscription as their “most interesting and education diet journey to date.”
A Sports Illustrated writer gave strong marks to Noom, claiming he “hit all of my weight loss goals” with the program while also learning more about the bad habits he developed. That writer is Cory Kessler, a certified fitness nutrition coach.
Noom has a 3.7 star rating out of 5 on Consumer Affairs with 2,500+ reviews. Most users (67%) have given the app a 5-star (42%) or 4-star (25%) rating. Users praise the app for its hassle-free trial and overall weight loss experience, but criticized the app for its lack of meal plans and inability to provide dietitians 24/7.
A group of Women’s Health writers, including a registered dietitian (RD) reviewed Noom in 2023, praising the platform for holding you accountable, being ideal for beginner weight loss users, and providing effective weight loss guidance for many people. However, they criticized Noom for its high price tag and its tendency to lump everyone into one group.
Noom has a 4.1 star rating on Trustpilot with 63,000+ reviews. The majority of users (59%) have given Noom a 5-star rating. Reviewers praise Noom for its effective approach to weight loss, easy-to-follow plans, and unique insights into the psychology of weight loss, among other perks.
WebMD liked the lifestyle-based approach Noom takes to weight loss, focusing on more than just calories in and calories out. However, they found it was not ideal for someone unwilling to put in the work, as you still need to shop and cook food.
Noom has strong ratings from hundreds of thousands of users on both app stores, including a 4.7 star rating with 790,000+ reviews on the iOS app store and a 4.1 star rating with 306,000 reviews on the Android app store. Thousands of users have shared stories, before-and-after images, and testimonials of their dramatic transformations thanks to Noom.
Overall, Noom has helped millions of users around the world achieve meaningful weight loss results. Many have learned more about the root cause of their weight management issues thanks to Noom’s psychology lessons. If you’re not willing to put in work, then Noom isn’t right for you. For many, however, it has provided proven and meaningful weight loss results.
Noom Pricing: How Much Does Noom Cost?
Noom costs anywhere from $17.42 to $70 per month, depending on your subscription plan. According to Noom, most users pay around $40 per month for their subscription, signing up for the four-month subscription. All plans are billed upfront.
Here’s how pricing works when signing up for Noom today:
- Annual Plan: $209 ($17.542 Per Month)
- 11 Month Plan: $205 ($18.75 Per Month)
- 10 Month Plan: $199 ($19.90 Per Month)
- 9 Month Plan: $195 ($21.75 Per Month)
- 8 Month Plan: $189 ($23.75 Per Month)
- 7 Month Plan: $184 ($26.50 Per Month)
- 6 Month Plan: $179 ($30 Per Month)
- 5 Month Plan: $174 ($34.80 Per Month)
- 4 Month Plan: $169 ($42.25 Per Month)
- 3 Month Plan: $159 ($53 Per Month)
- 2 Month Plan: $129 ($64.50 Per Month)
- Month-to-Month Plan: $70 ($70 Per Month)
Take control of your health. Start with Noom now!
All plans automatically renew. You can cancel at any time.
Noom also offers a unique “pay what you like” 7 to 14 day trial period. When signing up for a Noom plan, you can set what price you want to pay for your 7 to 14 day trial period. Some want to pay the lowest amount possible, while others are happy to pay more to try the service. Noom claims it costs around $10 to offer a trial to new customers. Some customers pay more, while others pay less.
Noom Refund Policy
Noom offers a 14 day refund policy. If you’re unhappy with Noom, then contact the company within 14 days of the charge date.
Renewal charges are not eligible for a refund, so make sure you cancel your Noom subscription before it renews to avoid non-refundable charges.
The price you paid for the trial is refundable. If you’re unhappy with Noom after your 7 to 14 day trial, then contact the company to receive a refund.
You can learn more about Noom’s refund policy here.
Contact Noom
Noom is a New York City-based health and wellness company. The company was founded in 2008 by two friends, Saeju Jeong (co-founder and chief executive) and Artem Petakov (co-founder and president).
Noom employs around 3,000 people, including 2,700 coaches.
You can contact Noom via the following:
- Online Support: https://www.noom.com/support/
- Phone: (888) 266-5071
- Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
- Registered Address: 229 W 28th St Fl 9 New York, NY 10001-5915
Customer service is available by phone from 7am to 10pm EST.
Final Word
Noom offers science-backed weight loss and has helped millions of customers achieve meaningful weight loss results.
Found online at Noom.com and available for iOS and Android, Noom uses proven psychotherapy techniques to tackle the root cause of weight management issues. You complete daily lessons, input food and exercise, and work with coaches each week to reach your target goals.
To learn more about Noom or to sign up today, visit the official website.
Related: Immudi Weight Loss Plan App
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