The Noom diet is a weight-loss and personalised meal-planning service available through the phone app. It was introduced in 2008 and since then it has quickly grown into one of the most searched-for diets in present times. Noom is known to help in making long-term changes to achieve weight-loss goals.  

It can also be used to record their diet and exercise habits and discuss their weight loss journey on Noom’s social platform.

What is Noom?

Noom is an app designed by behavioural, personal trainers, nutritionists and psychologists to help people lose weight, stay healthy and get fit. It aims on making, sustainable lifestyle shifts rather than encouraging more extreme styles of eating. Noom app helps to build self-awareness, accountability and healthy habits.

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Noom app uses unique traffic light system to rank foods according to the level of calories they contain. Example green vegetables are ranked as green as it has the least calorie dense, whereas junk food such as pizza is ranked as red as it has more calories and make up less of a portion.

When a person purchase a subscription and answer some questions on its website or app, using that data the app creators develop personalized weight loss plan. The algorithm will then design a weight loss plan according to the subscriber’s need and the app pairs them with an appropriate health coach. The coach provides them with relevant dietary information and advices to help the person achieve their weight goals.

Noom claims that people who use the Noom app and adapt a healthy lifestyle lose an average of 18 pounds in just 16 weeks.

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All about Noom

Some might think of Noom as a fad as it’s a relatively new weight loss platform. But there is a difference in terms of its approach. The programme doesn’t offer you any weightloss target in a couple of weeks. It charts out a plan for a long-term weight management through renewed healthy habits.   

When you choose Noom app or website, it will make you take a short personality quiz. Then a fitness plan is determined by your health status, goals, demographics, age and more. A user has to choose between “get fit for good” or “lose weight for good.” Then user has to answer a lifestyle quiz that helps in building a weight loss programme.

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Once all the process to build a weight loss program is completed, the user will get matched with a health coach and begin working towards its goals. Through Noom Program user may access to the assigned coach during the normal business hours, as well as 24/7 access to a coach through the app’s chat service.

The app does not allow a daily calories budget below 1,200 calories for women and 1,400 calories for men.  

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Diet and colour coding

The app aims to make you lose weight by focusing on natural weight-loss foods that provide energy and satisfaction. However there are no limits for food but the app provides diet plan that has lower calories and higher nutrition.

The green ranked food contains high nutrients level and make up the bulk of the diet plan, such as vegetables, fruits, dairy, protein and whole grains.

The yellow ranked food have less calories then green ranked food so these should be eaten in moderate amount, these include food with protein such as lean ground beef, eggs, chicken etc, fish, dairy products and grains.

The red ranked food are high in calories and lowest in nutrients and these foods make up often less and in smaller portion of the diet plan. It includes oils, seeds, nuts and nut butters.

The programme pricing starts out at US $59/month. It also provides a yearly membership at the best value at US $199 a year and the company also offers discounts throughout the year. 

What are the benefits of Noom diet?

Noom app’s weight loss plan is backed by a number of scientific studies. It uses a psychological approach. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a proven psychological method that helps you understand the relationship between your feelings, behaviour and thoughts. To get most out of the Noom programme and meet your health goals, you have to log your entire water intake, food and exercise details and have to be consistent about meal planning.

However, there are pros and cons, which one should consider before choosing the weight loss programme. 

• All the health coaches are certified by the National Consortium for Credentialing Health and Wellness Coaches.
• Noom diet only chooses healthy food options for you that can satisfy both your taste buds and body.
• The app aims to change your long-term habits and doesn’t give short-cut solutions. Noom’s psychological approach aims to change the eating habit of a person to achieve the weight loss goal and it helps develop a sustainable mindset around food, wellness, and fitness.

But then there are certain disadvantages too.

• The subscription of Noom app is costly. The programme starts at US$59 per month which may be costly for many people.
• Some experts feel the colour ranking approach may result in disordered eating habits or an unhealthy relationship with food.
• Noom does not offer face-to-face coaching services. If that’s what you are looking for, Noom may not be a right choice for you.
• Noom app does not allow the user to record information. So if you discontinue, there will be no diet record to refer to in the future.

While choosing any diet plan, your aim should not be just losing weight. It should be bringing about a balance in your life. Exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors also play a major role in your wellbeing, and the best diet will be the one which fits your lifestyle and is sustainable in the long term.