Updated: 10/11/2025 20:39:14
Noom
Noom is an app-based weight-management program that emphasizes psychology-driven behavior change and habit formation rather than prescriptive food bans. It combines short daily lessons grounded in behavioral science, food and activity tracking, a color-coded food system to highlight calorie density, and optional coach support. Noom offers subscription plans (with a trial), supports a range of dietary preferences, and also provides clinician-led services (Noom Med) for medical treatments. Outcomes depend on consistent user engagement; there have been customer complaints about billing and cancellations.
Coaching and support structure
Noom offers trained guides/coaches who provide goal-setting help, troubleshooting, motivation, and messaging support; coaches are part of the accountability framework but may not always be credentialed dietitians. [1]
Core components of the program
The program combines short daily lessons (5–15 minutes), a food logger, activity tracking, interactive challenges, a support group, and optional one-to-one messaging with a coach to reinforce behavior change and accountability. [2]
Cost, trial and billing considerations
Noom runs a free trial followed by subscription-based pricing (monthly or multi-month plans). There have been consumer complaints related to cancellations and billing, so users should review trial terms and cancellation policies carefully. [3]
Effectiveness and evidence
Research and reported outcomes indicate many users lose weight on Noom when they adhere to tracking and lessons; effectiveness is strongly linked to user engagement and honesty in logging. [4]
Limitations and user effort required
Success depends on consistent self-monitoring and engagement; the program requires daily logging and participation in lessons. Users seeking hands‑off or immediate restrictive approaches may find Noom’s method less directly prescriptive. [5]
Noom Med (clinician-led services)
Noom Med is Noom’s clinician-led offering that can include medical oversight and access to treatments such as clinician-prescribed GLP-1s alongside personalized coaching when clinically appropriate. [6]
Three-color food system
Noom classifies foods as green, yellow, or orange to indicate relative caloric density and nutrient density—encouraging more green (lower-calorie, nutrient-dense) choices while allowing flexibility rather than labeling foods as strictly good or bad. [7]
Tracking and app features
Users log food intake and activity in the app, which provides portion/calorie awareness and progress tracking. The app also delivers lessons, challenges, and a step counter to integrate multiple behavior-change touchpoints. [8]
What Noom is (program philosophy)
Noom is positioned as a program for sustainable habit change that focuses on the psychological drivers of eating behavior. It is not a traditional restrictive diet; instead it uses brief lessons and behavior-change techniques to help users understand why they eat and build long-term habits. [9]
Who Noom is best for
Noom suits people who are comfortable with smartphone apps and daily logging, want behavior-change coaching rather than restrictive rules, and are willing to invest time consistently to build sustainable habits. [10]
References:
Additional Sources:
11. Noom for Weight Loss: Review (WebMD) [https://www.webmd.com/diet/noom-diet]
12. Noom main site (program and pricing) [https://www.noom.com/]
13. Noom Med (clinical services) [https://www.noom.com/med/]
14. Noom: What is the Noom Diet? (Noom blog) [https://www.noom.com/blog/what-is-the-noom-diet/]