- Popular weight-loss app Noom bills itself as different from diets, but sets a low-calorie goal.
- For many users, the 1,200-calorie-per-day limit is too low and can cause side effects, says dietitian.
- Symptoms of undereating can include fatigue, mood swings, brain fog, and disrupted metabolism.
- Visit the Insider homepage for more stories.
Noom, an app to lose weight that won $400 million in revenue last yearbrands itself as different from a regular diet, according to adsusing psychology to help clients change their lifestyle.
But the app’s default recommendation of 1,200 calories a day for many users, regardless of body type or
weightloss
objective, it could cause side effects, according to a dietitian.
Cutting calories too much can cause mental and physical fatigue, as well as the risk of serious health problems over time, registered dietitian Brigitte Zeitlin told Insider.
1,200 calories a day is the recommendation for young children, not adults, experts say
Noom users are encouraged to track their food and stay within a certain calorie range, set at 1,200 for many users, several of whom spoke to me about dieting. I was given a goal of 1,200 calories when I tried the app myself.
I am an active person who lifts weights and exercises at a high intensity six days a week. This was more than 800 calories below the minimum recommended intake for me by the Mayo Clinic and MyFitnessPal.
“That’s extremely low. It’s not really an adult serving size,” Zeitlin said.
1,200 calories is the recommended amount for a young child, according to a dietitian who reviewed the app for the seattle times.
Noom says its much-debated 1,200-calorie recommendation is just a suggestion, and users can adjust their weight-loss goals, which will change their calorie limits. Even after adjusting to the slowest weight loss possible, my daily calorie goal increased to just 1,420. I was told I could “gain” more if I hit my “step goal,” the number of steps I take in a day.
cristina byrnea dietitian and journalist from North Carolina, said that after tweeting Y writing about noom, received hundreds of messages from Noom users. Byrne wrote that all but three of the Noom users who contacted her said they had been assigned a goal of 1,200 calories. Three women said they signed up for Noom while breastfeeding and achieved that goal, despite recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who eat more.
Calorie needs may vary based on activity level and current weight
Losing weight requires a calorie deficit, burning more calories than you eat.
Some people may need less daily calories for weight loss, Zeitlin said, based on gender, body size and exercise habits.
Zeitlin said the app doesn’t seem to take into account individual caloric needs or differences.
“The problem with Noom is that they don’t give you that number based on you,” Zeitlin. “The correct amount of calories for weight loss is different for everyone. There should be no standard. It’s detrimental, unrealistic and restrictive.”
Undereating can cause fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, and mood swings
While a small calorie deficit leads to weight loss, cutting calories too severely can have immediate effects. side effectsZeitlin said, including:
- Fatigue
- Brain fog and memory lapses
- Hair loss
- dry or red skin
- Digestive problems
- Irritability and moodiness
Long-term calorie restriction can mess with your metabolism and increase your risk of disease
Depriving the body of essential nutrients by undereating, especially if you go below 1,000 calories a day, can cause more dangerous symptoms over a period of months or years, including:
- Stress on the internal organs, including the heart.
- Increased risk of bone fractures
- Weakened immune system
- Disrupted metabolism
Severe calorie restriction can also be a risk factor for life-threatening problems such as
heart failure
overtime.
“The time before you end up in the hospital depends on how lucky you are,” Zeitlin said.
The app does not have a system for flagging high-risk behaviors or history of eating disorders.
Another potential risk of very low-calorie diets is that they could be triggered in people with a history of eating disorders, Zeitlin said.
When I signed up for Noom, the process did not include any questions to screen for this or other factors that might require more specialized attention.
“Apps can be helpful in learning new strategies for following your diet, but if you have more serious issues, you really need specialized treatment,” Dr. Robert Hindman, a psychologist at the Beck Institute, told Insider. “I don’t know if they have a mechanism to kick you out and say you really should see someone for this.”
However, the risk of triggering disordered eating behaviors is not unique to a 1,200-calorie diet.
Zeitlin said that any type of restrictive diet can be a trigger, regardless of the specific calorie limit.
