What Is the Noom Diet and How Does it Work?

The Noom diet is a personalized weight loss plan available through the phone app of the same name. The company behind the app claims that it helps people reach their personal weight goals. 

The Noom app provides its users with a personalized diet plan and access to a health coach.

It actually debuted in 2008 as a simple fitness and calorie tracker. But by 2016, the app had added a psychology and behavioral change component, user support groups and personal coaches.

Noom boasts a team of behavioral health experts who’ve researched oncology, diabetes prevention and management, hypertension and more to design a curriculum that gets at the cause of weight loss struggles. Noom dieters learn to focus on their mindset before they focus on meals. 

The Noom way means examining eating behaviors, managing emotions related to food, practicing accountability and making lifestyle changes that can result in sustained weight loss.

How Does Noom Work?

Getting started with the Noom diet plan involves answering questions no diet plan has ever asked me before.

1. Take a quiz for a customized plan.
The first step in the program is a 10-minute online quiz that asks typical questions about your height, weight, gender, age and why you want to lose weight. It also asks how active you are, how often you eat and whether you’re at risk for certain health issues like diabetes, heart disease and depression.

2. Pay, then download the app to your smartphone and create a log-in. 
Once you’ve decided to join the program and paid the fee, you must download the Noom app. It’s currently only available on IOS (12.4 or later) and Android (version 6 or later) smartphones. You can use it on iPad and Android tablets, but the functionality will be limited because tablets don’t typically come with motion sensors. After you’ve installed the app, you’ll be asked to sign in using the email address you used to join the program.

3. Meet your coaches, commit to lessons and get your calorie budget.
Noom asks you to complete 10 mini-lessons in psychology and behavioral change in 16 weeks. You decide immediately if you want to spend a minimum of five minutes to a maximum of 16 minutes a day on the lessons. About two days in, you’ll be connected with a goal coach who will personally reach out about twice a week to check in, ask about your progress and send motivational messages.

What Foods Can You Eat on the Noom Diet?

Green Foods:  Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are all low calorie dense foods, which means they’re higher in water content and provide the highest concentration of nutrients.

Yellow Foods:  Lean meats, legumes and low-fat dairy foods should be eaten in moderation because they have more calories and less nutrients than green foods.

Red Foods:  Red meats, processed foods and full-fat cheese are the most calorie-dense foods with the least amount of healthy nutrients. One-fourth to one-half cup servings of these foods make up 25% of your daily calories.

Noom does advertise a free one-week trial, a subscription costs up to $59 a month. Each plan is individualized, and the recommended duration of the program is based on the amount of weight you want to lose.