Meet Noom: The Psychology-Powered App That's Changing How We Think About Health

Okay, let's be honest here. We've all tried the diet thing more times than we care to admit, right? You know the drill—lose ten pounds, feel amazing for a hot minute, then somehow end up right back where you started (or worse). It's exhausting, and frankly, we're over it.

That's why when we first heard about Noom, we were skeptical. Another app promising to change our lives? Please. But here's the thing that made us actually pay attention: instead of telling you what you can't eat, Noom digs into why you make the food choices you do in the first place. Psychology over restriction? You got our attention.

The app has this whole "anti-diet" philosophy that truly feels like a breath of fresh air. We're talking millions of users worldwide who swear by this approach, and after spending time with the platform ourselves, we can see why people are so passionate about it. It's not just another calorie counter—it's more like having a really smart therapist who happens to know a lot about nutrition. (Image credit: pvproductions via Freepik)

What Is Noom?

So what exactly is Noom? Noom is basically a subscription-based health platform that lives on your phone. Founded back in 2008 by Saeju Jeong and Artem Petakov (one's a former music entrepreneur from South Korea, the other's an ex-Google engineer), the company started out focused on fitness tracking but evolved into something much more comprehensive.

Here's what caught our attention: they combine actual behavioral science with technology and real human coaches. Not just some chatbot, but actual people who understand that changing habits is hard work. The whole system revolves around this color-coded food approach—green, yellow, and red categories that make decision-making way less overwhelming.

What we love most? They call themselves an "anti-diet" program because the focus is on understanding your relationship with food rather than just cutting calories. It's available worldwide in multiple languages, and the psychology-first approach feels revolutionary compared to everything else we've tried.

What Does Noom Offer?

Alright, let's break down what you actually get when you sign up. The offerings are pretty diverse, which we appreciate since everyone's wellness journey looks different.

The main attraction is Noom Weight—this is the flagship program most people start with. You get daily lessons (actually interesting ones), food logging that doesn't make you want to throw your phone, weight tracking, and interactive challenges. Plus optional coaching if you want that extra accountability.

Then there's Noom Med for people who might benefit from prescription medications like GLP-1s. This isn't just "here's a pill, good luck"—you get the habit-change tools plus actual clinician support.

Noom Mood launched in 2021 and focuses on stress and anxiety management using cognitive behavioral therapy principles. Honestly, we wish more health apps understood that mental health and physical health are completely intertwined.

They're also working on some exciting future programs like Noom + HRT and microdose GLP-1 programs. The platform plays nicely with fitness trackers like Apple Health and Fitbit too, which is a nice touch.

Best-Selling or Most Popular Plans

Here's what people actually choose when they sign up (because we know you're wondering).

Noom Weight dominates, by far. Most first-timers go straight for this program. If weight-loss and changing the way you think about food is your main goal, this is the program for you.

The sweet spot seems to be the 4-month plan. It gives you enough time to actually see results without feeling like you're signing your life away. We've noticed this interesting pattern where people start with shorter commitments and then extend once they see it's actually working. 

The personalized daily lessons are a huge hit—they adapt based on how you're progressing and engaging, so it never feels like you're getting generic advice.

The Noom Story

The backstory is actually pretty compelling. Saeju Jeong was watching family members struggle with chronic health issues tied to lifestyle choices. That personal motivation combined with Artem Petakov's tech background created something unique in the wellness space.

They started in 2008 with basic fitness tracking, but by 2016 they'd pivoted completely to this psychology-based approach. The vision was ambitious: create scalable, tech-driven healthy living that actually works long-term.

Fast-forward to today, and Noom consistently ranks among the most downloaded health apps in the U.S. The evidence-based approach has earned them serious credibility in a space that's often filled with quick fixes and questionable science.

How Noom Works

The process is surprisingly thorough. 

Here's how it actually works once you download the app:

1. Take an in-depth questionnaire about your goals, habits, and lifestyle. It's not a quick survey—they really want to understand your unique situation.
2. Get a personalized program with calorie guidance, food logging, and those habit-building lessons we mentioned.
3. Learn the color-coded food system that makes healthy choices way less confusing:
   Green foods: Nutrient-dense and low-calorie (think vegetables, fruits, whole grains)
   Yellow foods: Moderate-calorie, balanced options (lean proteins, some dairy)
   Red foods: Higher-calorie items to enjoy mindfully—not forbidden, just approached with awareness
4. Get matched with a goal coach and join a peer support group. The daily check-ins and habit reminders adapt to your patterns over time, which feels much more personal than static apps. If you go with Noom Med, you also get clinician-guided medication support, which is a nice option for people who might benefit from that additional layer of care.

How Much Does Noom Cost?

While you can’t put a price on your health, it's nice to know the investment up front.

Here’s the breakdown of programs and pricing:

• Noom Weight:
  1 month: $70
  4-month plan: $169 (works out to about $42.25/month)
  6-month plan: $179 (roughly $29.83/month)
  12-month plan: $209 (around $17.42/month)
• Noom Med is $69 for your first month, then $297 for each 3-month block (about $99/month), and that doesn't include medication costs.

Before you commit, definitely check out our Noom promo code for discounts. While the full-price investment is worth it, who doesn’t love a good deal?

How to Pair Noom With Healthy Food Delivery Services

This might be our favorite discovery: combining Noom with meal delivery services is kind of genius. Think about it—Noom teaches you the psychology behind healthy eating, while meal delivery eliminates the biggest obstacles like planning, shopping, and cooking when you're already exhausted.

It's like having your nutrition therapist work alongside a personal chef. Noom shows you the "why" behind mindful eating and portion control, then these services make applying those principles incredibly easy.

These are the meal services we rely on:

• Factor works beautifully here—fully prepared, dietitian-designed meals that align perfectly with Noom's color-coding system. When you're learning portion control, having meals that are already perfectly portioned removes so much stress. You can even get free breakfast for a year with our exclusive Factor promotion. 
• Home Chef is great if you want to maintain some cooking involvement. Their customizable meal kits let you control ingredients while learning techniques that support your Noom journey. Our Home Chef coupons can keep your meals under budget.
• Blue Apron offers fresh ingredients with chef-designed recipes, including wellness-focused options that make practicing Noom's mindful eating principles feel natural and enjoyable.

If You Love Noom, You'll Also Love...

Building a complete wellness routine or looking for some app alternatives? 

These complement Noom nicely:

• WW (Weight Watchers): Points-based tracking with strong community support for those who prefer structured systems
• Headspace: Meditation that reinforces Noom's psychology focus and helps with mindful eating
• Centr: Holistic fitness platform with meal planning if you want to add structured workouts
• MyFitnessPal: More detailed nutritional tracking when you need granular macro data
• Calm: Stress reduction that supports the behavioral change work you're doing with Noom

Real User Experiences with Noom

The numbers are pretty impressive: 78% of roughly 36,000 users reported weight loss over 9 months in one analysis. But what we find more interesting is that many users say their biggest win was developing a "better relationship with food." That speaks to the psychology-first approach actually working.

Users who engage consistently with the daily lessons and coaching see the most sustainable results, which makes sense—you get out what you put in.

Why We Think Noom Is Worth It

After really digging into this platform, we're genuinely impressed by the focus on mindset over just meals. It tackles what we call "diet fatigue"—that exhausted feeling from restrictive plans that ignore psychology completely.

The flexibility is refreshing. Whether you want weight loss, maintenance, or just better habits, Noom adapts. The science-backed foundation gives us confidence recommending it, and the integrated mental health tools show they understand wellness is holistic.

The community aspect keeps people accountable without judgment, which is rare. Plus, it pairs well with other healthy lifestyle choices—like incorporating foods for hair growth into your routine—making it a valuable part of comprehensive wellness.