But what does it entail and why are 47 million people worldwide hooked on it, exactly? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Noom diet?
Primarily, Noom is an app that contains handy digital tools (such as a food diary, meal planner and fitness tracker) to help users keep track of their calorie consumption. It also comes with personalised one-on-one health coaching to facilitate behavioural change around food and exercise.
When signing up online, users are asked a series of questions about their body type, goals and activity levels. They are then provided with a program that’s inspired by the traffic light-system. For example, foods with low-calorie densities are labelled ‘green’ and are supposed to make up the majority of your day on a plate. While ‘yellow’ foods are to be eaten moderately, and ‘red’ foods only on occasion.
It’s similar to the way Weight Watchers points are logged in that nothing is off limits. Instead, it’s about consuming all foods mindfully and in moderation.
“This colour-coding takes both the quantity and quality of food into account,” Adam Fawer, Noom’s CEO told Shape. “Even ‘red’ foods are expected to make up a fair allotment (about 25 per cent) of your daily caloric intake.”
Here’s a sample of each category:
Green
Apples
Coffee
Egg whites
Nonfat yogurt
Oatmeal
Skim milk and nut milk
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes
Yellow
Avocados
Beans
Beer
Eggs
Grilled poultry and seafood
Hummus
Low-fat cheeses
Quinoa
Red
Beef
Bacon
Cake
French fries
Full-fat cheeses
Pizza
Nut butter
Wine
What makes Noom different from all other diet apps out there?
According to Fawer, it’s the accountability factor. Users have someone constantly checking in on their progress to motivate them and keep things on track.
“Noom users develop a meaningful one-on-one relationship with their coach, who schedules the basic sessions, checks in to praise them and keep them accountable, and takes a personal interest in their progress,” he explained.
Essentially, it’s about making small positive changes daily that, overtime, lead to long-term results.
“Participants in our program learn how to outsmart their own impulses, which means they’re learning skills that will stick with them after they stop using Noom,” he added.
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