Diet fads come and go quicker than a cup of froyo on a scorching summer day. Yet some eating plans, such as the Mediterranean and DASH diets, tend to stick around and top “best diet lists” despite their lack of trendiness.
While 2018 was clearly the year of keto (long-term popularity and results TBD), 2019 is shaping up to be the year of the Noom diet. More than 47 million people worldwide have used the program, deemed by some as “Weight Watchers for millennials,” and it topped Google’s “Top Trending Diets” #YearInSearch for 2018.
Here’s what you need to know before noshing via Noom from dietitians and those close to the creators.
What exactly is the Noom diet?
“Noom exists entirely as an app, and its main focus is creating behavioral change surrounding food and exercise choices,” says nutritionist Rania Batayneh, M.P.H., the owner of Essential Nutrition For You. “You start by taking a short online quiz during which you’ll answer questions about your weight-loss goals and preferred coaching style.”
It’s similar to the points logged in Weight Watchers (which is now called WW, BTW), where no foods are off limits. Noom focuses on moderation with a traffic light–inspired regimen.
“Each of our users has a personalized calorie budget based on age, sex, activity level, and more,” says Adam Fawer, the chief operating officer of Noom.
Foods with low-calorie densities (you may recognize this term from the volumetrics diet) are “green,” and are supposed to make up most of your diet, while “yellow” foods are to be eaten moderately, and “red” items are to be consumed sparingly.
