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Home Lifestyle Noom vs. Weight Watchers: Which One Is Right For You?

Noom vs. Weight Watchers: Which One Is Right For You?

noom vs weightwatchers
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According to a recent study, 43% of people worry about their weight occasionally or constantly, while 55% say they’d like to lose weight.

To lose weight, you must exert extra effort to increase your workout and make healthier food choices. 

Recognizing that you cannot achieve your weight loss objectives alone is one step toward achieving real success. You might need the help of a reliable weight loss program to experience change and enable sustainable lifestyle change.

Finding the best weight-loss programs is not a one-size-fits-all approach. With many available options, it can take time and effort.

Noom and Weight Watchers are apps that help you lose weight by tracking your daily food intake and activities. They both focus on eating unlimited amounts of healthy foods while limiting portions.

This article is about Noom and WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers, the two well-known weight loss programs.

We will compare and contrast Noom and WW, including their pros and cons for weight loss, cost, and benefits and answer your most asked questions about these programs.

Noom vs. WW Comparison

NoomWW
⭐ Rating3.9 ★★★★★4.1 ★★★★★
✅ ProsHealthy habits, focuses on calorie and nutrient density, o food, is off limitsFlexible and easy to follow, not restrictive, healthy habits, lots of workouts 
❌ ConsRequires mobile device
No specific meal plan
Time-consuming
Potential for weight regain
Higher price point
Certain plans may be time-consuming
Others may prefer structured diets
💰 PriceStarts at $59 per monthStarts at $15 per month
🧰️ Operational systemApple and AndroidApple and Android 
🔔 How to get startednoom.comweightwatchers.com

Summary

Noom and Weight Watchers are praised as effective weight-loss programs and are both well-known brands. While WW was first introduced in 1963, Noom was established in 2008, but the app only was released in 2016.

Both eating plans don’t require you to eliminate anything; instead, they focus more on reducing the quantity and changing your relationship with food while forming healthy-habits.

These two programs are also flexible enough to allow you to eat the things you enjoy while also trying to lead you toward healthier options.

What Is Weight Watchers (WW)?

The WW program is a weight loss app that offers a personalized diet plan, food trackers, exercise, sleep, and water intake, a barcode scanner to add foods, a recipe library, zero point foods, and a restaurant finder.

The program also offers meditations and activities for various fitness levels, and users can earn Personal Points for being active. There are also in-person courses, wellness sessions given by professionals, and one-on-one coaching options, depending on the membership level.

The WW app provides its users with a completely personalized Points Budget plan and a list of Zero Point foods based on the meals the user likes to eat. These lists are determined via a quiz in the Weight Watcher’s PersonalPoints Engine.

The questions are beneficial to you so you might have more success with the program. They ask about your present eating patterns, dietary choices, and lifestyle.

According to WW, no food is off limits but the points system naturally encourages you to select higher protein, more nutritious, and lower calorie foods as they are lower in points.

What Is Noom?

Noom is a weight-loss program focused on the psychology of your eating habits and behavior. It emphasizes behavioral changes and offers daily lessons and a color-coding system to help in better decision-making.

The platform focuses on teaching users how to manage stress better, their social environment, and any other obstacles they may encounter in their pursuit of wellness. This includes teaching users how to build healthy diets and exercise habits.

Rather than limiting food options, Noom empowers its users to make good lifestyle decisions by educating them about nutrition.

Unlike WW, which uses a points system, Noom tracks calories. The number of calories Noom provides you depends on how quickly or slowly you choose to lose weight using the program.

In addition to counting calories, Noom offers a color-coded system that helps its users evaluate the food they eat and make good decisions. Foods are categorized into 3 colors based on their calorie density.

Green foods are the foods with the highest concentration of nutrients and fewer calories per serving. They should make up most of your diet. Examples include vegetables and whole grains.

Yellow foods are lower in nutrients and more in calories than green foods. You’re advised to consume these foods in moderation. They consist of carbohydrates and lean meat.

Red foods are the most calorie-dense and contain the fewest nutrients. Red meats and desserts are examples of these foods, which should be consumed less frequently and in smaller quantities.

Noom encourages you to consume foods in all three colors daily, opting for moderate amounts of yellow and red foods rather than avoiding them.

Noom vs. Weight Watchers: Main Functions

Both Noom and Weight Watchers emphasize moderation, allowing you to eat any foods you desire in the program. WW uses a daily points system, while Noom assigns all items as green, yellow, or red based mostly on their calorie density. 

According to Noom, this app uses a psychology-based approach to weight loss and encourages its users to create and maintain good food and exercise habits. The program includes daily educational articles, food and weight logging,  interactive challenges,  counting calories, and other features.

WW gives food and beverages point values, which you add up to reach your daily points budget. Although there are no food limits, you will need to select a lower-calorie, larger volume, fiber, and protein foods with a lower point value due to the restricted points budget.

Noom vs. Weight Watchers Pros

The WW and Noom plans emphasize long-term weight loss. Compared to quick fixes, they may have several benefits.

Noom benefits

Weight loss programs are beneficial not only on your body weight but also on your overall health. Here is how Noom can benefit you 

#1 Helps to build healthy habits

It takes more than just watching what you eat to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle.

It’s also about changing unhealthy patterns that prevent you from achieving your goals, reinforcing positive behaviors you already have, and creating new, healthy habits.

Without behavioral changes, people regularly gain back the weight they first lost while following a low-calorie diet.

Noom offers a psychology-based curriculum that promotes self-efficacy in one’s capacity to develop the routines required to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

#2 Not so restrictive

Restricting certain foods or entire food groups may encourage unhealthy eating patterns or compulsive “clean” or healthy eating habits. Noom doesn’t restrict certain meals but advocates consuming them in moderation because some foods higher in calories, like nuts, also contain key nutrients. 

This allows you to stay under or close to your daily calorie limit.

#3 Focused on calorie density

Noom considers calorie density, which measures how many calories are present in a food or beverage relative to its weight or volume. Its color system coding helps categorize foods according to their calorie density and nutrient concentrations.

Low-caloric density foods have fewer calories in a large amount of food, while high-caloric foods have more calories in a small amount of food.

Weight Watchers benefits

Just like Noom, WW has several benefits that can benefit your health in general. Here’s how

#1 Great community

A strong support network is required for long-term weight loss. WW provides help through online communities for members only, live and online support groups, and virtual coaches which can impact your weight loss journey.

According to studies, nearly any weight management program will be more effective if it’s supplemented with support services.

#2 Lots of workouts

Besides helping you set daily and weekly exercise goals, the WW app motivates you to achieve them by awarding you extra PersonalPoints for each workout you include in your weekly budget plan. WW keeps things fun and encourages you to select exercises you enjoy.

The WW membership includes an on-demand workout program featuring instructor-led cardio, yoga, core, stretching exercises, and pilates. 

#3 Steady weight loss

The CDC recommends losing weight at a safe rate of 1-2 pounds per week, and WW is made to help you achieve that goal. 

Rapid weight reduction increases the risk of long-term weight gain. Therefore it’s okay that WW adheres to the “slow and steady” approach.  Slow and steady wins the race when trying to lose weight and keep it off.

Noom vs. Weight Watchers Cons

While Noom and WW are great and offer all-inclusive tools that can help you achieve your health goals, they have some downsides.

It’s crucial to understand that keeping track of your food and calorie consumption can encourage disordered eating habits, including excessive calorie restriction and food anxiety.

Noom Cons

Here’s how Noom can hinder your weight loss plans

#1 No specific meal plan

There are no strict dietary guidelines with Noom other than the daily calorie limit and suggested ratios of red, green, and yellow foods. Some people will thrive with this dietary freedom, while others who are used to strict eating regimens may find it difficult to live without it.

#2 Time consuming

Noom asks you to check in once a week, either in person or online, to weigh yourself. This can be challenging for some people, and others may find it awkward to be weighed in front of other people. Reporting what you eat everyday is also tiresome.

Weight Watchers cons

Although WW has many benefits, it might not be a better program for everyone due to several factors.

#1 High price point

The first decision you’ll make upon joining WW is the program’s duration and expense per duration (6 months, 3 months, or 1 month). The next step is to select your add-ons, which all come at an extra cost. They can be either one-on-one coaching or instructor-led workouts.

The overall cost of achieving certain weight loss goals can be out of reach for those on a tight budget.

#2 Might be too complicated for beginners

If you’re not used to keeping track of your food intake and exercise routine, it might be too complex for you. You could get frustrated trying to figure out what foods qualify as points on their system and how much exercise is enough each day.

Noom vs. Weight Watchers Cost

Noom and WW can be affordable for some people but for others, they can be costly

What is the price of Weight Watchers (WW)?

WW has different types of memberships,  including the Digital Plan, which costs $20/month and gives you access to the app, monitoring tools, recipe and exercise resources, and a social network where you can interact with other WW members.

The Digital 360 Plan costs $29.95 per month, which includes 24/7 live coaching, private one-on-one coaching, and WW’s PersonalPoints Program.

You will spend around $45 monthly on the Workshop + Digital plan (prices may vary by zip code). You get in-person coaching sessions with other regional members and everything in the digital package.

You will pay $59.95 for the Personal Coaching + Digital package. All the digital benefits are included, as well as weekly phone calls with a WW coach.

What is the price of Noom? 

Noom has a seven-day free trial if you want to try it out first.  However, unlike WW, it only has one basic plan, which costs $59 per month. You can save money by deciding on a lengthier plan in advance.

A year of Noom costs just $199, or roughly $17 per month, and 6 months cost a one-time price of $159.

Which Is Better: WW or Noom?

Despite certain similarities between the two diet plans, each uses a different approach. WW offers various plans with different levels of support and provides customized Points Budget plan and a list of Zero Point foods which are also sugar free, a better option for some people.

On the other hand, Noom emphasizes behavioral changes and lifestyle improvements to support weight loss, which may be a crucial factor for some.

Also, Noom offers daily psychology, nutrition, and habit-building lessons through articles or quizzes. WW gives an incentive known as WellnessWins, which lets you accumulate points by completing in-app tasks. Then you can use these points for gifts or produce donations for underprivileged families.

While Noom is accessible in nations with access to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, WW is accessible in more than 15 countries. Noom also offers its program in five different languages: English, Korean, Spanish, German, and Japanese.

When picking between Noom and WW, it’s important to consider the approach that most resonates with you, the features you want, and which application works within your budget. 

FAQs

Does Weight Watchers plan work?

Yes, it works. It’s a personalized program that focuses on well-being and forming a healthy lifestyle. According to a review of studies on weight loss in commercial diet programs, individuals who participated in WW for 12 months lost 2.6% more weight on average than those allocated to control groups.

What makes Noom special?

Noom uses a psychology-based approach to weight loss and helps users create and maintain healthy diet and exercise routines. Additionally, its weight loss program provides daily instructional articles, interactive challenges, food and weight logging, calorie counting, and other features.

What is the success rate of Noom?

The success rate of Noom is 78%. According to a study that investigated the effectiveness of Noom on weight loss in  35,921 overweight and obese women and men, Noom was found to promote weight loss in 78% of participants.

What is the success rate of Weight Watchers?

The success rate of Weight Watchers is 57%. According to a 2017 research of a test sample of obese individuals, it was found that, 57% lost weight on WeightWatchers as opposed to 42% on another weight-loss plan.

Comparison Table

Here is how Noom vs. Weight Watchers compares with another well performing weight loss program

hand-indicating-scroll-ability
Perfect Body
Weight Watchers logo
noom logotype
4.3 / 5
stars
4.1 / 5
stars
3.9 / 5
stars

Activity tracker

Meals and shopping lists

Water intake tracker

Assigns points-based values to foods using the Personal Points system

Offers a range of plans with different levels of flexibility

Meal planning tools

Recipes

Emphasizes foods with a lower calorie density to promote weight loss

Promotes long-term healthy habits

Offers daily educational lessons

User-friendly app
Daily progress tracker
Over 100 recipes
Flexible and easy to follow
No food is off limits
Encourages healthy habits
Lots of workouts
Offers community support
Promotes healthy habits
Focuses on calorie and nutrient density
No food is off limits
Offers support
No free trial
Higher price point
Certain plans may be time-consuming
Others may prefer structured diets
Requires mobile device
No specific meal plan
Time-consuming
Potential for weight regain
Brand
Perfect Body
Weight Watchers logo
noom logotype
Rating
4.3 / 5
stars
4.1 / 5
stars
3.9 / 5
stars
Product info

Activity tracker

Meals and shopping lists

Water intake tracker

Assigns points-based values to foods using the Personal Points system

Offers a range of plans with different levels of flexibility

Meal planning tools

Recipes

Emphasizes foods with a lower calorie density to promote weight loss

Promotes long-term healthy habits

Offers daily educational lessons

Pros
User-friendly app
Daily progress tracker
Over 100 recipes
Flexible and easy to follow
No food is off limits
Encourages healthy habits
Lots of workouts
Offers community support
Promotes healthy habits
Focuses on calorie and nutrient density
No food is off limits
Offers support
Cons
No free trial
Higher price point
Certain plans may be time-consuming
Others may prefer structured diets
Requires mobile device
No specific meal plan
Time-consuming
Potential for weight regain

How We Tested

Before committing to a weight loss program, spend some time learning as much as you can about it. Just because a diet is trending or your friends are following it, doesn’t necessarily imply it’s best for you. Here is how we tested Noom and Weight Watchers.

Quality

Do the programs offer guidelines you can adjust to your circumstances? Are the apps compatible with iOS or Android? Are they easy to use and provide community support? Do they show you how to make wholesome, healthy changes in your life that will support maintaining your weight loss?

Effectiveness

Is the weight-loss plan supported by science and research? What qualifications, training, certifications, and experience do the coaches and other staff members have? Does the program have any risks? Could it harm your health? Are the recommendations safe for people with health conditions or for taking medications?

Price

Does the weight loss app offer a free trial or charge a small fee to download? Does it offer a monthly or yearly subscription fee? 

While the more expensive apps typically offer many more customized options, personalized feedback, access to experts, and workouts, most free weight loss apps frequently have fewer features and functionalities.

Brand reputation

Are the apps from reputable companies? Do the companies offer what they promise? Are the customers getting what’s worth their money? 

A Word From a Nutritionist

Before including any weight loss program on your weight loss journey, there are important things to know.

Looking for quick fixes is never a good idea. You shouldn’t try diets or use products that claim you can lose a lot of weight by making one small change to your daily routine or by taking only one pill daily. 

While some of them could even have some success, you can be certain that soon you stop using them,  you might regain all the weight you lost with them. Your emotional and physical health may suffer as a result.

Concentrate on making healthy food choices to help you attain and maintain a healthy weight. Remember that you didn’t gain weight overweight; therefore, it won’t disappear overnight. Results may take time to show, but with persistence, there is no doubt you will succeed.

No superfood can help you lose fat; even though some super foods have been scientifically proven to help in weight loss, balanced, healthy foods that will give your body adequate nutrients and keep you in a calorie deficit is important.

It’s also important to speak with your doctor before beginning any diet plan, particularly if you have any underlying illness like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure or are taking any prescription drugs.

Conclusion

Noom and Weight Watchers may help in weight loss by promoting low-calorie, nutrient-dense diets and good lifestyles. The apps can be accessed using a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet.

However, these apps cannot be a good fit for everyone who wants to lose weight, due to the fact that they offer unlimited access to foods. This can cause unhealthy dieting.

For such people, the PerfectBody app can be a great alternative to lose weight. It’s comprehensive, user friendly, and it offers healthier food choices, an accurate activity and calorie tracker. Additionally, it includes a ton of useful tools for maintaining your healthier lifestyle.

Written by
Edibel Quintero, MD

Edibel Quintero is a medical doctor who graduated in 2013 from the University of Zulia and has been working in her profession since then. She specializes in obesity and nutrition, physical rehabilitation, sports massage and post-operative rehabilitation. Edibel's goal is to help people live healthier lives by educating them about food, exercise, mental wellness and other lifestyle choices that can improve their quality of life.

noom vs weightwatchers

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