Noom's success is backed by studies which show logging what you eat could be the best way to lose weight. Research conducted by Duke University shows that even if they weren't looking to follow a specific diet or eating plan, people who paid attention to and carefully tracked what they ate actually ended up losing a significant amount of weight (via Duke Today).

Duke University psychology professor Gary Bennett, who was part of the research team, says, "Free and low-cost weight loss apps have changed the ways that Americans manage their weight... We've shown that commercial smartphone apps can be a helpful way to get started with weight loss. We have very strong evidence that consistent tracking — particularly of diet, but also one's weight — is an essential element of successful weight loss. Consumers should look for apps that make it easy for them to track on a consistent basis."

But Noom's relatively high cost (a monthly recurring plan can cost up to $59 a month) could outweigh its benefits, particularly if there are other free or lower-cost food and activity logs in the market. Then again, paying a hefty price to get fit could be one reason why Noom has been such a success within its community: a 2016 survey showed 77 percent of Noom users lost weight after nine months of using the app.