Noom and MyFitnessPal are two apps that aim to help you lose weight and live healthier. They both have similar features like setting weight loss goals, creating personalized diet plans, and tracking your activity and calorie intake. But, there are some differences between them. If you want to know more about calories and weight loss, there are many resources to learn about it such as blogs, workbooks and podcasts. One example is this research study from University of Central Florida which is about “Designing Calorie Counter Smartphone Applications for Effective Weight Loss”.

WHAT IS NOOM

Noom is a mobile application designed to help people adopt a healthier lifestyle through personalized coaching, education, and tracking. Some of its key features include:

• Personalized coaching
• Food logging
• Weight tracking
• Exercise tracking
• Calorie counting
• Meal planning
• Goal setting
• Daily articles and challenges
• Social support
• Virtual community

Noom helps you make long-term changes to your lifestyle by focusing on behavior change and psychology. You log your meals manually, which takes some time but helps you keep track of what you're eating accurately. Noom gives you personalized meal plans based on your goals and preferences. You can use the free version, but if you want extra help, you can pay for personalized health coaching to keep you motivated and on track.

WHAT IS MYFITNESSPAL 

MyFitnessPal is a popular mobile app that helps users track their nutrition and fitness goals. Some of the features of the app include:

• Calorie tracker
• Exercise tracker
• Water intake tracker
• Macronutrient tracker
• Barcode scanner
• Recipe importer
• Food diary
• Weight tracker
• Progress reports
• Community support
• Goal setting
• Premium features (additional cost)

WHICH IS BETTER: NOOM OR MYFITNESSPAL

MyFitnessPal is more focused on counting calories and keeping track of what you eat every day. It has a bigger food database, so it's easier and quicker to log your meals. The app calculates how many calories you need to eat each day based on your weight, height, and activity level. The meal plans are not as personalized as Noom's, but the app does offer more advanced tracking features and analysis if you pay for the premium version.

Both apps are designed to help you achieve your health and fitness goals in the long term. If you want to make long-term lifestyle changes, many argue that Noom is better because it focuses on behavior change and psychology. If you're mainly focused on counting calories and tracking what you eat, MyFitnessPal is better for you. Ultimately, the choice between Noom and MyFitnessPal depends on your personal preferences and goals. Both apps can help you lose weight, improve your health, and achieve your fitness goals.

MY PERSONAL OPINION ON NOOM VS MYFITNESSPAL

As a certified food and body coach, I don't want to condemn any tools or viewpoints. In the intuitive eating community, some consider Noom and MFP as harmful because they lead to calorie obsession, food stress, or weight fixation. 

However, I don't agree with the notion that these tools should be avoided altogether. I believe that it's up to the user to decide if they are helpful or not. A balanced approach is essential and should be used mindfully.

Everyone's journey is different, and what works for one person may not work for another so the most important thing is to listen to your body and make choices that support your overall well-being.

Embark on a transformative journey towards a healthier you with cutting-edge tools like MyFitnessPal and Noom. Explore effective strategies tailored to your unique relationship with food and body, empowering you to make choices that align with your goals. Learn how to lose fat sustainably with my online course Sustainable Fat Loss Course.