Noom

Noom is a health app focused on weight loss and healthy habits, built on principles from behavioural psychology. Rather than prescribing a strict diet, it aims to help users understand why they eat the way they do and to build sustainable habits through daily lessons, food logging and coaching. Its psychology-first approach distinguished it from calorie-counting apps. Noom draws on cognitive behavioural techniques, teaching users about habits, triggers, emotional eating, cravings and mindset through short daily articles and quizzes. The goal is lasting behaviour change rather than short-term restriction, an approach that resonated with people who had tried and abandoned traditional diets. The app combines education with tracking. Users log meals, and Noom's colour system categorises foods by calorie density - green, yellow and orange - encouraging more filling, lower-calorie foods without banning anything. Users also track weight, exercise, water and steps, and set goals. Coaching and group support provide accountability, with human coaches supplemented increasingly by AI features. Noom has expanded into medical weight loss: Noom Med and related programmes connect eligible users with clinicians who can prescribe medications such as GLP-1 drugs, combined with Noom's behavioural programme, reflecting the major shift in weight management these medications have caused. Noom is a subscription service, and its pricing and auto-renewal practices have drawn criticism in the past, so it is worth reviewing terms and cancellation policies carefully. As with all weight-loss tools, results vary, calorie-focused approaches are not suitable for everyone - including people with a history of eating disorders - and medical programmes require proper clinical oversight. Alternatives include WeightWatchers for points-based plans with community support and its own clinical programmes; MyFitnessPal and Lose It! for calorie tracking; Cronometer for detailed nutrition tracking; MacroFactor for adaptive coaching; Found and Calibrate for medical weight loss; and working with a registered dietitian. Choose Noom when you want a structured, psychology-based programme for changing eating habits, with optional medical support.