Noom Coach – health and weight app

Noom Coach is an app for users who are committed to following a healthy weight loss and maintenance programme. It would suit users who are keen to learn more about the food they eat, eating behaviours and motivators.

Noom Coach app	By Noom Inc.
	Features Coaching team messaging. Support group. Recipe database. Barcode scanner and food database. Customised daily lessons and exercises available in written or podcast format. Saved reading materials covering topics such as portion size, understanding the colour system, breaking down your calorie goal. Pedometer. Memes to provide humour. Map on course progression Visual weight tracker with ability to share progress.
Clinical review	Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy	Does the app: Collect medical information? Yes Require a login? Yes Have password protection? Can be password protected Have a privacy policy? Yes Require internet access to use? Yes Read more about safety and security when using apps. Brochures: Tips to improve your privacy and security [PDF, 65 KB] Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost	Free
Advertisements	This app contains no ads.
How to get the app	(external link) (external link) (external link)

Noom is a tailored and personalised weight management programme. It offers a food and weight tracker, goal setting, coaching and education on behaviour change to achieve weight and lifestyle goals. Based on an extensive assessment Noom calculates a recommended daily calorie intake based on the user’s current weight and their goal weight. In addition it creates a customised learning journey. Users receive instant feedback on calories consumed and the remaining calories left for the day. Noom provides motivational tips and reminders. Premium provides personalised meal and exercise plans.

For a more detailed description of the app, see Google Play(external link) or iTunes(external link) and for a detailed review, see reviews below.

PROS	CONS
✔ Uses an extensive assessment of goals and current behaviours which ensures the advice is specific to the user and motivation is tailored. ✔ Simple and user-friendly with some effective graphics to see your weight management progress against your goals. ✔ Has a colour system to help users identify least to most calorie dense foods. ✔ The group forum is structured, moderated, respectful, and supportive. ✔ Weekly check-ins by a coach support users to be accountable to the app and their goal. ✔ Daily reading/listening materials and activities are motivating and informative.	✘ Noom uses an extensive assessment of goals and current behaviours which includes education snippets. This can make the initial engagement with the app time consuming (~30minutes). ✘ After the initial assessment it becomes clear Noom is a paid subscription with only a 14 day low cost trial. ✘ The amount of content provided by Noom for education and learning can be overwhelming and some users may find it hard to maintain the reading requirements.

PROS

CONS

✔ Uses an extensive assessment of goals and current behaviours which ensures the advice is specific to the user and motivation is tailored.

✔ Simple and user-friendly with some effective graphics to see your weight management progress against your goals.

✔ Has a colour system to help users identify least to most calorie dense foods.

✔ The group forum is structured, moderated, respectful, and supportive.

✔ Weekly check-ins by a coach support users to be accountable to the app and their goal.

✔ Daily reading/listening materials and activities are motivating and informative.

✘ Noom uses an extensive assessment of goals and current behaviours which includes education snippets. This can make the initial engagement with the app time consuming (~30minutes).

✘ After the initial assessment it becomes clear Noom is a paid subscription with only a 14 day low cost trial.

✘ The amount of content provided by Noom for education and learning can be overwhelming and some users may find it hard to maintain the reading requirements.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Frances Arenhold, Dietician
Date of review: April 2023
Platform: Android
Version: 11.7.1 (paid version)
Comments: Noom provides a tailored and structured platform to learn about eating behaviours and track weight and food intake. It uses nutrition and psychology scientific evidence and health coaching techniques to support users to lose weight and achieve their goals. It provides resources, reading and audio education and reflection material, as well as support groups, memes and recipes.
Safety concerns: None
New Zealand relevance: Yes
Concerns: None

NZ Health App Library
Consumer guide: how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide: how to choose a health app

References

The following references relate to articles about apps for weight loss.

Coughlin SS, Whitehead M, Sheats JQ. Smartphone Applications for Promoting Healthy Diet and Nutrition(external link): A Literature Review. Jacobs J Food Nutr. 2015;2(3):021
Chen J, Cade JE, Allman-Farinelli M. The Most Popular Smartphone Apps for Weight Loss: A Quality Assessment(external link). JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Dec 16;3(4):e104. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.4334.
Flores Mateo G, Granado-Font E, Ferré-Grau C, Montaña-Carreras X. Mobile Phone Apps to Promote Weight Loss and Increase Physical Activity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis(external link). J Med Internet Res. 2015 Nov 10;17(11):e253. doi: 10.2196/jmir.4836.

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.

Factsheets – using health apps safely

How to choose a health app
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ

Privacy and security tips for using health apps
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ

Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.

Noom Coach – health and weight app