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Noom is a health and wellness app designed to help people lose weight by changing daily habits—not by handing you a rigid meal plan. Instead, it combines food logging, step and weight tracking, and short psychology-based lessons to help you understand why you eat the way you do and how to build routines that actually stick. In plain terms: Noom is trying to turn “weight loss” into “behavior change,” so results can be more sustainable.
This post covers what Noom is, how it works, and the most useful Noom statistics and study findings available publicly (with clear year labels).
Answer Box: What is Noom and does it work?
Noom is a subscription-based weight loss app that focuses on behavior change using psychology-informed coaching and daily lessons. Studies analyzing Noom users have found many participants report weight loss while using the program, and longer-term research suggests a meaningful share of users maintain clinically significant weight loss at 1 year. Results vary, and outcomes tend to be better when users consistently log food, weight, and habits.
- Best for: People who want structured habit-building with tracking + short daily lessons
- Not ideal for: Anyone who finds calorie tracking triggering or wants a strict meal plan done for them
- Core idea: Behavior change (mindset + routines) drives weight loss, not quick fixes
Key Metrics (Quick Table)
| Metric | Most reliable public figure (with year) | Source / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Program type | Behavior-change weight loss program delivered via app | Noom describes its approach as habit + mindset focused, rooted in psychology. (Undated page) |
| Food guidance system | Green / Yellow / Orange food categories | Based on calorie density and nutrition guidance. (Updated help article) |
| User-study sample size | 35,921 Noom users (2016 study) | Large observational dataset published in a peer-reviewed journal. |
| Reported weight-loss rate | 77.9% reported weight loss (2016 study) | Self-reported decrease among users in the dataset. |
| >10% weight reduction | 22.7% achieved >10% reduction (2016 study) | From the same peer-reviewed analysis of Noom users. |
| Short-term outcome (adherence link) | >5% baseline BMI loss over ~3 months (2017 study) | Peer-reviewed study linking engagement to outcomes. |
| Longer-term maintenance | 75% maintained ≥5% loss at 1 year (2023 study) | Published analysis of weight-loss maintenance after a digital commercial behavior-change program. |
| GLP-1 companion engagement | 77.8% engaged for 4+ weeks (as of Nov 2025; reported Feb 2026) | Company-reported metric for its GLP-1 companion program (not a peer-reviewed statistic). |
Important: Some Noom-related numbers online are estimates or marketing claims. The table above prioritizes peer-reviewed research and clearly labels company-reported metrics.
What Is Noom?
Noom is a mobile app that combines tracking tools (food, weight, movement) with short daily lessons designed to help users change eating and lifestyle habits. The app positions itself as “mind-first,” emphasizing the psychology behind choices—like stress eating, all-or-nothing thinking, and how environment cues affect behavior.
Unlike many diet programs, Noom typically aims to teach skills you can keep using: planning ahead, managing cravings, building routines, and creating more consistency—so your progress isn’t dependent on perfect willpower.
How Noom Works (Step-by-Step)
1) Daily lessons focused on behavior change
Noom uses short reading modules and prompts intended to build awareness and practical skills. Many explanations draw on behavior change principles and cognitive-behavioral concepts (for example: reframing unhelpful thoughts and building sustainable routines).
2) Food logging with a color system
Noom’s food system sorts foods into green, yellow, and orange categories to help users choose foods that are more filling and nutrient-dense for the calories. The guidance is designed to be flexible rather than “forbidden foods.”
3) Tracking weight and activity
The app encourages consistent tracking so users can see trends over time and connect daily choices with outcomes. For some people, frequent weigh-ins are motivating; for others, they may be stressful—so this is a personal fit question.
4) Coaching and support (varies by plan)
Depending on the version of Noom and the plan selected, support can include coaching and structured programs. Reviews are mixed on how “human” coaching feels, so it’s worth understanding what level of support is included before committing.
Noom Results: What the Research Says (With Year Labels)
There isn’t a single “typical” Noom result because outcomes depend on consistency, starting point, lifestyle, and whether someone stays engaged. But several peer-reviewed studies provide useful signals:
- 2016 (peer-reviewed observational study; 35,921 users): 77.9% of participants reported decreased body weight while using the app, and 22.7% experienced more than 10% weight reduction compared with baseline. (Self-reported weight change in an observational dataset.)
- 2017 (peer-reviewed): Over a three-month interval, participants lost about two BMI points on average, described as greater than 5% of baseline BMI, with engagement/adherence linked to outcomes.
- 2023 (peer-reviewed): In a study focused on maintenance after a digital commercial behavior-change program, 75% maintained at least 5% weight loss after 1 year, and 49% maintained 10% weight loss.
How to interpret this: The strongest pattern across research is that engagement matters—people who log and participate more consistently tend to do better. That doesn’t guarantee results for every individual, but it’s a practical takeaway if you’re evaluating whether Noom fits your style.
Noom Pricing (What to Expect)
Noom is generally sold as a subscription with discounts for longer commitments. Public reviews often describe pricing in the premium app range, with some sources citing monthly pricing around $70 (varies by plan, promotions, and region). If you’re comparing options, look closely at:
- What support is included (coaching vs. self-guided)
- Commitment length (monthly vs. longer plans)
- Cancellation steps (know the policy before you subscribe)
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Behavior-change focus can feel more sustainable than rigid dieting
- Clear structure: lessons + tracking + habit support
- Food color categories are simple for many people to follow
Cons
- Logging can feel time-consuming (and can be stressful for some users)
- Coaching experience can vary by plan and expectations
- Not designed as a strict done-for-you meal plan
FAQ
Is Noom evidence-based?
Noom’s approach aligns with established behavior-change concepts, and multiple peer-reviewed studies have analyzed outcomes among Noom users. However, some published results are observational and/or rely on self-reported data, so it’s best to view them as helpful indicators rather than guarantees.
How much weight can you lose with Noom?
Results vary widely. Studies show many users report weight loss while using the app (2016), and other research suggests clinically meaningful weight loss can be maintained at 1 year for a substantial portion of participants (2023). Engagement (consistent logging and participation) is commonly associated with better outcomes.
What is Noom’s food color system?
Noom categorizes foods into green, yellow, and orange groups to guide choices based on calorie density and nutritional value. The idea is to help you feel fuller with fewer calories without labeling foods as “off limits.”
Does Noom include coaching?
Coaching/support depends on the plan and current product structure. Some plans include coaching and additional support features, while others are more self-guided. Confirm what’s included at checkout.
Is Noom worth it compared to other programs?
Noom tends to be a better fit if you want habit-building structure and don’t mind tracking. If you want a fully customized clinical plan (e.g., for medical conditions) or you dislike logging, a registered dietitian or a simpler approach may be a better match.
Sources (Selected)
- Peer-reviewed: “Mobile Phone-Based Behavioral Intervention for Weight Loss: A Large-Scale Observational Study”
(Scientific Reports, 2016) —
Read the study - Peer-reviewed: “Digital Intervention for Weight Loss: The Effect of Engagement and Adherence on Outcomes”
(Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2017) —
Read the study - Peer-reviewed: “Weight loss maintenance following a commercial digital behavior change program”
(Scientific Reports, 2023) —
Read the study - Noom: “How Noom’s Food Color System Works” —
Read the explainer - Consumer overview (pricing/context): Health.com Noom review —
Read the review
