Can an app burn fat?
The US based weight loss app, Noom, reportedly doubled its revenue to $400m between 2019-2020. Noom is aiming for an early 2022 IPO, with an anticipated valuation of $10bn. Clearly weight loss apps are big business, but do they work?
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The evidence from academic studies is not promising. One early report, the 2015 study in Obesity on the effect of weight loss apps on young adults over 24 months found that neither the use of a mobile app alone nor personal coaching with mobile self-monitoring resulted in statistically significant weight loss after 24 months compared to the control.
Interestingly, those who received coaching with self-monitoring via an app did achieve better results than the control group at six months, but not at 12 or 18 months. Other studies have suggested that weight loss apps can be effective, one 2016 study found that for each 10% increase in adherence to the tracking tool was associated with an additional 2.6-point reduction in BMI (Body Mass Index), however this study only covered a three-month period.
Old habits die hard. The truth would seem to be that most people with or without an app will revert to type eventually and resume their previous eating habits based on digital intervention alone. What does this mean for weight loss apps?
To take Noom as an example. For $59 a month it offers a 16-week weight loss programme, with an aim to both lose weight and form future healthy eating habits among its users. It provides online coaching to give feedback and support to dieters and advice to encourage them to develop healthier eating habits.
According to Saeju Jeong, co-founder and CEO of Noom speaking at the Future of Health conference, the app is successful at reducing bodyweight by 5% over the initial 4–6-month period. He added that more than 70% of users lost more than 5% in four months which stayed off for at least a year after. Of course, there is inherent selection bias that those using the app have already committed to diet given they will likely spend $236 for the four-month course. Losing pounds (£) is a good way to focus the mind on losing pounds (lbs).
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