Noom vs. Trim Down Club - Which Program Is Better For You?

Noom vs. Trim Down Club – Technology has become a significant part of our everyday lives, so why not turn to tech for weight loss? Noom is a mobile app that features all the latest diet and fitness tools, and the Trim Down Club is a website that focuses on removing processed foods from your diet. Which one is right for you? We compared both programs to find out which plan is more effective.

What is Noom?

Noom, the psychology-based lifestyle app, is consistently ranked as one of the most searched weight loss programs in the world. Users can choose between the 16-week Healthy Weight Program or the 24-week Diabetes Prevention Program to permanently change their brain works.

Noom has all the bells and whistles where weight-loss apps are concerned: food logging, an intuitive fitness tracker, educational guidance, and a personal coach who is always available to help you push your limits.

However, what really sets Noom apart is how this revolutionary app gradually “tricks” your body into losing weight. With a personalized meal plan and behavior modification techniques, Noom makes weight loss easier than ever before. The best part is that the Noom program teaches you how to maintain a healthy weight after you’ve hit your target weight, something you don’t often see as well.

For a limited time, you can take Noom for a spin with a free trial offer. All you have to lose is those extra pounds you don’t want anyway.

What is the Trim Down Club?

The Trim Down Club is a website dedicated to weight loss. Subscribers gain access to an 8-week weight-loss plan, menu planner, food journal, progress meter, and interactive forums that connect you with Trim Down Users around the globe.

The Trim Down Club doesn’t offer an app, so you’ll have to log on to the website to use member tools. You can keep track of the foods you eat, but the program frowns on calorie counting, so use another app if you want to know your daily calorie intake.

Noom vs. Trim Down Club – History

Brief History of Noom

On July 25, 2008, the company that would become Noom was launched in New York City. The app was designed to provide wisdom amidst the chaos that is modern dieting. It spent nearly eight years in research and development before its debut in 2016.

The word Noom is actually “moon” spelled backward. Noom’s founders believe the moon represents wisdom and serenity. It’s also a constant in the night sky.

Noom partnered with physicians, psychologists, nutritionists, dieticians, and physiology experts to ensure that it was the most well-rounded weight management app on the market.

The program has also completed several successful funding rounds that have attracted attention from Sequoia Capital and Samsung. The co-founders of Door Dash and WhatsApp are just a few of the investors.

Noom has more than 50 million subscribers worldwide, and the app continues to evolve. In 2019, Noom announced a partnership with global healthcare leader Novo Nordisk. Together, they hope to reduce the number of type 2 diabetes diagnoses around the world.

The Centers for Disease Control released a list of change-based programs that have an overall positive effect on a user’s lifestyle, and Noom was on that list.

Noom currently has offices in New York, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Brief History of Trim Down Club

We know the Trim Down Club was founded in 2012, and the company headquarters is in San Francisco, California. Unfortunately, there isn’t any other relevant information about the company online.

Noom vs. Trim Down Club – Who’s Behind the Plans?

Who Created Noom?

Tech geniuses Artem Petakov and Saeju Jeong are the driving force behind Noom. Petakov, a computer scientist raised in Ukraine, and Jeong, an electrical engineer from Seoul, know that technology is the key to ending the obesity epidemic.

Petakov and Jeong were employed by Google, Sun Microsystems, Hongik University, and Microsoft before founding Noom. Both now live in New York City.

Who Created Trim Down Club?

We have no idea who created the Trim Down Club. Ossie Sharon, a registered dietician from Ohio, is mentioned on the company website. Sharon is a holistic and traditional nutrition expert with nearly 20 years of clinical experience.

Lauren Richer is the Trim Down Club’s personal coach and dietician, and Dr. Karen Shackelford is the chief nutritional advisor.

Noom vs. Trim Down Club – The Rules

Rules of Noom

Unlike other programs, Noom users are not constrained by excessive rules and bland diets. On Noom, you eat what you want, and the program adjusts to your dietary preferences.

Using three main principles, the program gradually incorporates healthier foods into your diet while encouraging physical activity.

Education

Noom doesn’t just tell you what to eat; Noom wants you to know why certain foods are better than others. This prepares users for success after they no longer need the Noom app. One way Noom accomplishes this is through an educational curriculum that offers insight into dietary habits, dining out, how your moods affect your diet, stress management techniques, curbing cravings, and the fundamentals of nutrition.

Nutrition

Noom uses a “traffic light system” to categorize food into three groups: yellow, red, and green. The Noom database contains millions of foods. All Noom users have to do is scan the barcode found on any food packaging or enter the food item manually.

The app will give you the food’s nutrition facts and tell you what category it belongs in. Once Noom starts to understand what foods you like and dislike, it will make suggestions for smart substitutions.

New Noom users answer questions about their height, weight, age, activity level, and weight-loss goals. Noom uses this information to assign them a daily calorie target. This daily target will change throughout your weight loss journey.

The Noom food categories are as follows:

• Green: Healthy and nutritious foods. Fill up on these low-calorie foods.
• Yellow: Nutritious, but less healthy than green foods. Portion control is critical with this group.
• Red: Fatty foods, fried foods, and foods that are loaded with sugar. Don’t overdo it with red foods.

Physical Fitness

Daily physical activity is important when you’re trying to lose weight. The people who created Noom know that every person is different, so the program doesn’t force you to exercise beyond your comfort zone.

You can go for a run, walk your dog, or take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Every little bit counts, and you can use the Noom fitness tracker to log all types of exercise.

Noom knows that people tend to exaggerate how many calories they burned through exercise. What felt like a 30-minute run might have only lasted for 15 minutes. To account for human error, Noom adds half of your calories burned to your daily calorie target.

If you burn 500 calories on Tuesday, you can eat an extra 250 calories throughout the day.

We love that Noom offers users the ability to take advantage of a free trial offer so users can see just how different, and effective, the program is at no risk.

Rules of Trim Down Club

The Trim Down Club provides a set of rules to every subscriber:

• No more overly processed foods that can make you overweight and sick.
• Learn to replace bad foods with better foods.
• No calorie counting.
• No taking diet supplements or following fad diets.
• No starving yourself.

The Trim Down Club’s rules seem simple enough. Unfortunately, they don’t provide further information about how their diet plan works.

Noom vs. Trim Down Club – Eating Plans

The Noom Eating Plan

Noom simplified dieting by grouping all foods into three categories.

Green

Green foods are low-calorie foods that are loaded with essential minerals and vitamins. These foods contain lots of fiber to keep you feeling full longer, and they’re low in calories, so you can eat more of them.

Green foods include:

• Watermelon
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Strawberries
• Peaches
• Bananas
• Oranges
• Apples
• Peas
• Tomatoes
• Spinach
• Onions
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Lettuce and salad greens
• Carrots
• Asparagus
• Almond milk
• Yogurt (non-fat)
• Tofu
• Cottage cheese (non-fat)
• Egg whites
• Shrimp
• Brown rice
• Tuna (canned in water)
• Pasta (whole grain)
• Bread (whole grain)
• Black coffee
• Zero-calorie flavored water
• Unsweetened green tea
• Quinoa

Yellow

Yellow foods are important. They contain protein, vitamins, and minerals to give you the energy your body needs. Unfortunately, yellow foods are higher in fat, sugar, and calories compared to green foods. Portion control can ensure that you don’t overindulge on this food group.

The yellow foods list includes:

• Wild rice
• Yellow rice
• Bagels (whole wheat)
• Basmati rice
• Couscous
• Tortillas (corn)
• Cheese (low-fat)
• English muffins
• Beans
• Milk (low-fat)
• Fruit cups
• Olives
• Avocados
• Pineapple (canned)
• Fruit juice
• Fruit cocktail
• Grilled chicken (no skin)
• Figs
• Lean cuts of beef
• Tempeh
• Guacamole
• Salmon
• Lean cuts of pork
• Eggs
• Turkey breast

Red

Some of your favorite snacks and desserts are probably found on the red foods list. However, Noom doesn’t forbid you from eating any food. You can still eat small portions of your favorite red foods.

Red foods include:

• Chips
• Soda
• Nachos
• Sweet tea
• Hamburgers
• Sports drinks
• Hot dogs
• French fries
• Bacon
• Sausages
• Onion rings
• Beef tacos
• Butter
• Pizza
• Protein bars
• Cheeseburgers
• Salami
• Cake
• Ice cream
• Granola
• Mayonnaise
• Chocolate
• Trail mix
• Gummy candies
• Cupcakes
• White rice
• Sugary cereals
• Whole milk
• White pasta
• Pretzels
• White bread
• Chocolate milk

These food lists are only an example of the foods you’ll enjoy on the Noom eating plan. At last count, the Noom database had more than 3 million foods cataloged. You’ll never get bored with Noom.

The Trim Down Club Eating Plan

Five foods are banned when you’re following the Trim Down Club eating plan:

• Concentrated orange juice
• Whole wheat bread
• Processed meats
• Processed soy
• Margarine

According to the Trim Down Club, avoiding the foods mentioned earlier will help just about anyone lose weight. Why? It’s all in the way these foods are processed.

The Trim Down Club believes that these foods can affect your hormones, making you gain weight. The company also claims that overindulging on these foods puts you at risk for developing serious health complications.

So, what can you eat on the Trim Down Club diet? Here’s a one-week sample menu to give you an idea of what you’ll eat on the Trim Down Club eating plan.

Monday

• Breakfast: Banana muffins
• Lunch: Turnip fries
• Snack: Raw beetroot pepperoni
• Dinner: Snapper with Greek-style seasonings

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Chickpea hash browns
• Lunch: Baked eggplant
• Snack: kettle corn
• Dinner: Veggie lasagna

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Green Goddess fruit smoothie
• Lunch: Mini veggie pizzas
• Snack: Spiced almonds and pumpkin seeds
• Dinner: Stuffed bell peppers

Thursday

• Breakfast: Turkey/pear sausages
• Lunch: Tuna salad on crackers
• Snack: Cheesy kale crisps
• Dinner: Chicken and eggplant sausages

Friday

• Breakfast: Mini-quiches (gluten-free)
• Lunch: Lettuce wraps
• Snack: Dairy-free feta cheese and olives
• Dinner: No meat black bean chili

Saturday

• Breakfast: Coconut and mixed berry oatmeal
• Lunch: Paleo meatloaf
• Snack: flaxseed crackers
• Dinner: Arcadian Fricot

Sunday

• Breakfast: Black coffee and orange slices
• Lunch: Garden salad
• Snack: Zucchini courgette crisps
• Dinner: Caramelized onion-portobello brisket

Noom vs. Trim Down Club – Plan Duration

How Long Does Noom Last?

The original Noom Healthy Weight Plan is a 16-week program. The program also newly launched a Diabetes Prevention Plan that is 24 weeks long.

Users can stick with Noom for as long as they want. The app is clinically proven to help members maintain a healthy weight after they meet their weight-loss goals.

You can take either program for a test drive with the free trial offer available to everyone today!

How Long Does the Trim Down Club Last?

The Trim Down Club is an eight-week program. After completing the program, you can continue to use the Trim Down Club to stay in contact with other members of the forums and for easy access to healthy recipes.

Significant Differences Between Noom and Trim Down Club

The most significant difference between Noom and Trim Down Club is the features that are offered.

Calorie Counting

The Trim Down Club does not support calorie counting. With Noom, you can log millions of different foods with the swipe of a finger. They will also calculate your daily caloric intake while providing valuable nutritional insight.

Educational Material

The Trim Down Club has a blog that provides educational material, but Noom takes it a step further with daily quizzes and interactive lessons.

Fitness Tracking

Noom helps users document their daily physical activity so they can successfully create a calorie deficit. The Trim Down Club is more focused on diets.

Personal Coaching

The Trim Down Club has a forum for support while Noom provides users with a personal coach.

The Eating Plan

Noom relies on calorie counting and portion control so users can still eat their favorite meals. The Trim Down Club restricts users from eating processed foods.

Can You Use Trim Down Club on Noom?

There’s no point in using Trim Down Club if you’re already subscribed to Noom. Noom covers all of the bases when it comes to diet and fitness tools.

Possible Side Effects of Noom vs. Trim Down Club

Side effects are not a concern with Noom or the Trim Down Club. Both programs call for a healthy diet and increased physical activity with no need for potentially harmful diet supplements.

Consult with your family doctor if you have any concerns about starting a new weight-loss program. Your doctor can help you decide which plan is right for you.

Noom vs. Trim Down Club – The Research

Clinical Research on Noom

During a nine-month clinical trial published in Scientific Reports, researchers studied 35,000 people while taking part in the Noom Healthy Weight Program.

Almost 80% of the study’s participants reported significant weight loss, and 23% of the study’s participants reported losing at least 10% of their total body weight.

Clinical research published in the International Scholarly Research Network – Obesity demonstrates how people who make permanent changes to their behavior are twice as likely to maintain a healthy weight after reaching their desired weight. This is why Noom encourages people to retrain their brains to end bad habits.

Another study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that people who have access to a virtual coach are more successful at losing weight. Luckily, Noom employs thousands of support coaches to ensure every member has all the tools they need to reach their goals.

Clinical Research on Trim Down Club

The Trim Down Club’s philosophy is that avoiding processed foods will help dieters lose weight without restricting calories.

There are many methods for losing weight, but they all require a calorie deficit to be effective. Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition confirmed that a calorie deficit created through diet, exercise, or a combination of the two is required for weight loss.

Additionally, there is some evidence that suggests processed foods are harmful to your health.

One study followed 100,000 participants over five years. The research, first published in the British Medical Journal, suggests that eating excessive amounts of processed foods may increase the risk of developing coronary heart, cerebrovascular, and cardiovascular diseases.

The Facts About Noom vs. Trim Down Club

Quick Facts on Noom

• Uses groundbreaking technology to provide a customized diet and fitness plan for every Noom user.
• Users are asked to spend 10 minutes a day retraining their brains for permanent weight loss.
• Food restrictions and side effects are never part of the Noom protocol.
• Over 50 million people have subscribed to Noom in the last four years.

Quick Facts on Trim Down Club

• The Trim Down Club eliminates processed foods for weight loss.
• Counting calories is not required for the Trim Down Club.
• Does not have a calorie log or fitness tracker.
• Has been in business since 2012.
• The Trim Down Club does not have an app.

The Final Take on Noom vs. Trim Down Club

The Trim Down Club is geared towards people who want to cut processed foods out of their diet. If you’re serious about losing weight, Noom is the better option. With Noom, all of the tools and information you need are streamlined into one convenient app.

We love that Noom is also backed by tons of clinical research, making it a clear winner over Trim Down Club.

Right now, Noom is offering a free trial offer to all Dietspotlight readers for a limited time, so make sure to give it a try!

Noom vs. Trim Down Club Questions and Answers

What exactly is Noom?

Noom is a weight-loss program that’s designed to teach the user how to make healthier lifestyle changes so they learn how to live lighter and lose weight naturally.

What are green foods?

Green foods on Noom are what you can consider “GO” foods. These are foods that are rich in vitamins and nutrients, but that have a lower calorie density so you can eat a larger portion for fewer calories.

What are yellow foods?

Yellow foods on Noom are where the majority of your calories will come from – about 40%. Most of your dietary calories will come from yellow foods, but because they are slightly higher in calories, the yellow cautions to keep track of portion control.

What are red foods?

Red foods on Noom are the ones you need to stop and think about before eating. That’s not to say to avoid all red foods, just to keep in mind that they are calorie dense so you don’t get a very large serving for the total amount of calories supplied.

How much does Noom cost per month?

After the initial trial, Noom costs $59 on a month-to-month basis. If you choose to purchase multiple months as a package, you can save money. All packages, including the month-to-month plan, are recurring. Packages offered include:

2-months: $99
3-months: $129
4-months: $139
5-months: $149
6-months: $159
7-months: $169
8-months: $179
12-months: $199

Does Noom have a meal plan?

Yes, Noom has an available meal plan for users who want to pick up this program add-on for an additional cost.

Is Noom easy to cancel?

Yes, Noom is one of the easiest programs to cancel. All you have to do is log in to your app, send a message to your coach that you want to cancel your subscription. You will receive communication back from your coach and a confirmation email.

Is Noom worth the money?

Yes, based solely on clinical research, Noom is worth the money because more than 79% of users report significant weight loss.