Jenny Craig vs. Noom: Is One a Better Choice for Weight Loss?

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Noom and Jenny Craig are two programs designed to support weight loss.

While both share some similarities, including the option for personal coaching, they have several key differences.

This article takes a closer look at Noom and Jenny Craig to see how they compare.

An overview: Noom and Jenny Craig 

While the end goal of achieving your ideal weight is the same for Noom and Jenny Craig, the companies use different approaches to help you get there.

Noom

Noom is a digital platform that’s largely app-based. You can enroll on a monthly basis at a minimum, or you can sign up for an annual auto-renewing plan. There are also options in between, for various periods of months.

Subscribers get:

• daily nutrition lessons
• virtual support from a health coach
• an online recipe library
• access to an online support group
• a simple, color-coded system to help you assess foods based on calorie density

Jenny Craig, in contrast, offers preportioned meals and snacks. You can start off by paying on a weekly basis, which allows you to test it out. Jenny Craig has three different meal plans, some of which include:

• an extensive menu of prepared meals, with options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as snacks, shakes, and desserts
• virtual or in-person coaching with a Jenny Craig consultant
• activity plans
• a quality-of-life assessment

Though there are some similarities between the two programs, they also differ in terms of price, menu options, features, and long-term effectiveness.

How Noom and Jenny Craig compare

Basics

Here’s a brief overview of how these two programs stack up against each other.

Noom

Noom is a mobile health app that helps promote long-lasting, sustainable weight loss.

It asks a series of questions and builds a personalized plan for you based on your medical history, activity level, food preferences, and weight loss goals.

It also offers access to a virtual support team, including a group coach, goal specialist, and online support group.

The app allows you to log your intake and track your daily activity to help you stay on track.

It also provides additional resources, including educational articles and a recipe library.

As a virtual program, Noom is widely available in most countries with access to Google Play or the Apple App Store. Still, China, Cuba, Georgia, Sudan, Serbia, Myanmar, the Solomon Islands, Macau, Iran, and Liechtenstein are exceptions to the latter.

Plus, Noom is available in five languages.

Jenny Craig

Jenny Craig is a commercial diet that aims to help simplify weight loss by delivering an array of fully prepared meals and snacks.

It’s available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico.

Certain plans also offer personal coaching with a Jenny Craig consultant, with either virtual or in-person meetings each week.

Here are the different plans offered by Jenny Craig:

• Simple Meal Plan: provides 7 breakfasts and 7 seven lunches per week
• Essential Meal Plan: provides 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 7 dinners per week and includes free delivery
• Rapid Results Max Meal Plan: provides 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners, 7 protein bars, and 7 snacks or desserts per week and includes free delivery and personal coaching

Jenny Craig also encourages members to fit in regular physical activity and enjoy 1–2 additional healthy snacks per day to help round out their diet.

Once you achieve your weight loss goals, you can transition to a maintenance plan, which involves transitioning from eating only Jenny Craig meals to preparing your own healthy meals at home.

Where can you buy Jenny Craig food?

One thing that’s both a downside and upshot of Jenny Craig is that users will get at least some of their meals from the company. Unlike Noom, the program isn’t designed to work with whatever you currently eat.

However, there are plan-dependent options that make getting Jenny Craig meals easier. You can opt to have them delivered to your door, or pick them up from your local Jenny Craig Weight Loss Center

Menu options

Here’s what you can find on the menu for each program.

Noom

Noom encourages users to select foods with a lower calorie density, meaning they contain a low number of calories relative to their volume or weight.

On the company’s website, detailed information on the calorie density of certain ingredients can be found, and foods are classified as green, yellow, or red.

Foods that are green and yellow should make up the majority of your diet, including ingredients like fruits, vegetables, proteins, whole grains, and legumes.

However, keep in mind that Noom doesn’t eliminate or exclude any foods.

Instead, it encourages users to enjoy their favorite foods in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Jenny Craig

Jenny Craig has a large menu with over 100 prepared items, including entrées, breakfast dishes, snacks, desserts, bars, and shakes.

Each item on the menu is accompanied by a detailed list of ingredients and nutrition facts, which can be useful for those with a food allergy or intolerance.

You can easily mix and match your favorite items from the menu to create your own custom meal plan each week.

The company also offers a low carb plan specifically for people with type 2 diabetes.

Keep in mind that options may be limited for other eating patterns, including vegan, vegetarian, kosher, halal, and gluten-free diets.

Cost

Here’s how each program varies when it comes to cost.

Noom

Noom is a subscription-based service and offers plans starting at $60 for a 1-month membership.

You can also prepay for several months at a time to get additional savings.

For example, an annual membership costs $199, which translates to around $16.58 per month.

The company also offers a 7-day trial. During the trial, you can pay however much you want, starting at just $0.50.

Jenny Craig

Jenny Craig has three plans, which range in terms of price:

• Simple Meal Plan: $13.99 per day
• Essential Meal Plan: $21.99 per day
• Max Up Weight Loss Plan: $29 per day

The Essential Meal Plan and Max Up Weight Loss Plan also include free shipping.

With the Simple Meal Plan, free shipping is provided when you order at least 2 weeks’ worth of meals.

Optional add-ons like protein shakes, snacks, and desserts are available for an extra fee.

Effectiveness for weight loss

Studies show that both Noom and Jenny Craig may be effective for long-term weight loss.

Noom

While research on the effectiveness of Noom specifically is limited, some studies suggest that it may be an effective tool for long-term weight loss.

For example, one study in 70 women found that using a digital coaching program like Noom for 8 weeks led to significantly greater weight and fat loss than a control group (1).

Participants also experienced greater improvements in emotional eating behaviors (1).

Another study in almost 36,000 people noted that approximately 78% of Noom users reported weight loss while using the app over an average of 9 months (2).

Noom also encourages eating healthy foods with a low calorie density, which can be an effective strategy for weight loss (3, 4).

Plus, it focuses on making dietary and lifestyle modifications, which can help support long-term, sustainable weight loss (5).

Jenny Craig

According to Jenny Craig, members can expect to lose an average of 1–2 pounds (0.5–1 kg) per week while following the program.

Several studies have found that Jenny Craig may aid weight loss.

For example, a study in 133 women observed that those who followed Jenny Craig for 12 weeks lost an average of 11.8 pounds (5.3 kg) (6).

Another large review of 39 studies showed that people who followed Jenny Craig for 1 year achieved 4.9% greater weight loss than those who received brief education or behavioral counseling (7).

The program may also be effective for maintaining weight loss for longer periods.

In a 2010 study, women who used Jenny Craig weighed nearly 8% less than their initial body weight 2 years after starting the program (8).

Other benefits

Both diets may also be associated with a few other benefits.

Noom

Noom provides access to online health coaches and support groups, which may be useful for those who prefer personalized guidance and having a team to help hold them accountable.

Unlike other diet programs, it also builds a custom plan tailored to your needs and goals. This plan is based on information that you provide when signing up.

Additionally, Noom is much less restrictive than other diets and doesn’t cut out any food groups or ingredients.

Although it encourages dieters to focus on foods with a lower calorie density, it also allows you to enjoy other high calorie foods in moderation.

Jenny Craig

Like Noom, Jenny Craig may be a good option for those who prefer having social support, as certain plans offer personal coaching sessions with a Jenny Craig consultant.

It’s also convenient and easy to follow, with little to no food prep or cooking required.

Plus, it may be linked to improvements in other aspects of health.

For instance, some older studies have found that Jenny Craig may help improve blood sugar management in people with type 2 diabetes (9, 10).

Additionally, one 2013 study in 417 women noted that following the Jenny Craig diet for 24 months significantly reduced inflammation and cholesterol, high levels of which are risk factors for heart disease (11).

It’s important to note that although researchers collected and analyzed data independently, this study was supported by Jenny Craig.

Downsides

There are several downsides associated with each program.

Noom

Although Noom offers an extensive library of recipes, it doesn’t provide any meals or snacks as part of its program, which may be a downside for those looking for the convenience of a weight loss meal delivery program.

It also requires a bit more time and effort than other programs, as dieters are encouraged to track and log their physical activity and food intake each day.

With individual monthly plans starting at $60, Noom can also be somewhat expensive compared with similar programs.

Because it’s entirely digital and requires the use of a tablet or smartphone equipped with internet, it may also not be the best option for those who don’t have access to these devices or aren’t tech-savvy.

Finally, all communication with your support team is entirely virtual, which may not be ideal for those who prefer in-person interactions.

Jenny Craig

Jenny Craig relies mostly on highly processed, preportioned foods and ingredients.

A high intake of processed foods has been tied to a higher risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression (12, 13).

Plus, eating mostly prepackaged foods may make it more challenging to transition back to your typical diet and increase your risk of weight regain.

The program can also be expensive and difficult to follow in the long term, with plans starting at $13.99 per day.

Additionally, the program offers limited selections for certain dietary restrictions, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, halal, or kosher diets.

Customer reviews and brand reputation

Here is a closer look at each company’s customer reviews and brand reputation.

Noom

Noom is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and currently holds an A+ rating, which is based on factors like the company’s history of complaints and its business practices.

On TrustPilot, Noom has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, based on over 59,000 customer reviews.

Positive reviews on TrustPilot note that the Noom app is easy to use and effective, with some people also stating that the daily lessons and individualized support help increase motivation.

Of course, there are less than stellar reviews, too. Some report issues with billing errors and app functionality. A few customers note that the lessons can feel redundant or oversimplified, which may make the app less suitable for folks with advanced nutrition knowledge.

In 2020, Noom was involved in a class action lawsuit, which alleged that the company misled customers into signing up for a “risk-free trial” without disclosing its auto-renewal and cancellation policies. In 2022, Noom agreed to a settlement of $56 million.

Jenny Craig

Unlike Noom, Jenny Craig is not accredited by the BBB, though it does hold an A- rating from the organization.

Jenny Craig has just two reviews on TrustPilot. However, there’s more information on it through Consumer Affairs, where the company holds a rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 783 customer reviews.

Many reviewers on Consumer Affairs report having a positive experience with the ease and convenience that Jenny Craig offers. They also praise several key features of the program, like the personal coaching.

But some reviewers note that:

• The portions are small.
• The meals are not filling or flavorful enough.
• Any weight loss achieved on the program is not sustainable long-term.

A few people also mention experiencing digestive issues while following the program, while others note that the food is high in sodium and pricey.

Jenny Craig has been involved in a few lawsuits over the years, including several related to advertising violations, false and misleading claims in campaigns, and unsolicited text messages.

How do Noom and Jenny Craig compare to other competitors

In addition to Noom and Jenny Craig, there are several other weight loss programs available that you may want to consider. Here’s a comparison chart:

When to see a doctor 

It’s always best to consult with a doctor or dietitian before starting any diet or weight loss program. It’s especially important if you have underlying health conditions or dietary restrictions. A healthcare professional can help provide more detailed guidance and recommendations based on your needs.

You’ll also want to seek a medical professional’s opinion if you experience any adverse symptoms while using a weight loss program.

Watch out for digestive issues, dizziness, and headaches, as some commercial weight loss programs have been linked to these symptoms (14).

If you experience these symptoms, discontinue your diet immediately and talk with a doctor to address any concerns.

Recommendation

Offering an array of prepackaged, fully prepared meals and snacks, Jenny Craig is a convenient and easy option for weight loss, especially for those who are short on time or hoping to minimize their weekly meal prep.

On the other hand, Noom focuses on making changes to your diet and lifestyle to support weight loss and better health.

Although it requires a greater time commitment, this may be more effective for promoting long-term, sustainable weight loss.

Plus, Noom is more widely available internationally.