Episode 23: Wellness Apps – With the sexy TV ads promising you a healthy relationship with food when you’re done, you might think – “Wow, this is it! Finally, a wellness app that isn’t about weight loss!”
At least that’s what I initially thought. The beautiful ad literally stopped me in my tracks. Until…wait for it…
The ad’s closing tagline…”Visit Noom dot com today and lose the weight for good.”
Boom there it is! Confirmation that yes, wellness apps like Noom, are still a diet.
Ok, maybe my anti-diet bias is getting in the way. So, what happens when an investigative journalist turned dietitian gets curious about the fad “wellness app” Noom?
Join Carrie Dennett on the Savor Food and Body Podcast, as she gives you a behind-the-scenes view of Noom, a trendy wellness app, and why it’s still a diet no matter how much they toss around the word psychology in their marketing.
Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN is a Pacific Northwest-based registered dietitian, certified Intuitive Eating counselor, journalist, author, and speaker. She writes a weekly nutrition column for The Seattle Times and contributes regularly to The Washington Post, Today’s Dietitian magazine, and Environmental Nutrition Newsletter.
Carrie is the author of “Healthy For (Your) Life: A Holistic Approach to Optimal Wellness,” which blends intuitive and mindful eating with a non-diet approach, current nutrition science, and a lot of nutrition myth-busting. She also brings these principles to her virtual private practice, where she helps women who are struggling with disordered eating and overcoming chronic dieting.
Carrie is a second-career dietitian who worked as a newspaper journalist for many years before earning her Master of Public Health in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Washington. When she’s not writing or working with clients, she’s probably reading, lifting weights, doing yoga, meditating, or deciding which of her 300 cookbooks to make dinner from.
Before we dive in, full disclaimer:
We’re not here to point shameful fingers. We’re here to offer an insider’s look at the program and offer insight that you won’t find anywhere else.
After her own personal exploration of the program, Carrie shares…
- Why do Noom and other wellness apps claim to incorporate intuitive eating into their programs? Is it legit?
- What’s the number 1 question companies like Noom should be asking participants but aren’t?
- How does Noom’s “we’re not a diet, we use psychology” messaging helpful or not?
- How do Noom’s practices directly inhibit you from practicing attuned eating and autonomy with food?
Finally, Carrie shares her passionate thoughts about Noom’s misleading TV ads and claims that their program is backed by scientific research – both of which had me initially hooked.
If you’ve been considering starting Noom or a program like it (January is just around the corner!), listen to this behind-the-scenes review and consider it your invitation to give it some more thought.
Learn more about Carrie’s work by visiting:
Website: Nutrition By Carrie
Instagram @carriedennett
Facebook: @nutritionbycarrie
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