There’s no shortage of diet programs out there promising to transform your body and improve your health. Unfortunately, very few are informed by science and research, which can make unlocking long-term weight loss a challenge.
Have you spotted the CSIRO diet, but aren’t sure what it’s all about? At first glance, it might seem similar to the program we offer here at Noom. But there are important differences that you need to know about when weighing up your options.
So, which is right for you? Noom or CSIRO’s total wellbeing diet? We’re diving into everything you need to know, to find your best fit.
What is the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet?
The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet is a weight loss program developed by scientists from CSIRO (Australia’s national government research organisation). Back in 2005, the diet was first launched as a book and has now transformed into a 12-week digital program, thanks to the support of the Glycemic Index Foundation (GIF).
As you’d expect, this is a science-based weight-loss program that focuses on high-protein, low-GI meal plans to lower cravings, reduce appetite levels and deliver sustainable weight loss.
What does the CSIRO Wellbeing Diet involve?
The CSIRO diet offers a couple of programs at a range of price points. Their signature 12-week weight loss program gives participants access to:
- A weight loss program that’s scientifically formulated
- Simple meal plans and recipes for both individuals and families
- An at-home exercise program, suited to all fitness levels
- A handy mobile app and tracking tools, including a food and exercise tracker, weight tracker and an interactive guide. And much more
What is Noom?
At Noom, we know that weight loss needs to involve more than just diet plans. It’s why we take a holistic approach that harnesses the principles of psychology (such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to help you build healthy habits for the long term.
Backed by science, Noom’s approach is informed by over 30+ peer-reviewed scientific articles that back up its effectiveness. We don’t just help you lose weight, we help you better understand the psychology behind your habits to support lifelong behaviour change.
Here’s a snapshot of what to expect with Noom:
- Personalised lessons backed by the latest research in psychology and behavioural science.
- One-on-one coaching through a personal coach and support comminities to keep you motivated and on-track throughout the experience.
- Tracking tools for food and exercise including weight logging, food and water tracking and step counting.
Weighing up Noom or CSIRO: Which diet is right for you?
At this point, you might be wondering how Noom and the CSIRO diet differ. After all, both use scientific approaches to help you build healthy habits and unlock long-term weight loss.
While both sound similar, there are some key differences you need to know about. Let’s walk you through what you need to know when weighing up Noom vs the CSIRO diet.
Noom vs CSIRO: What’s similar?
Let’s start off with the similarities. Both Noom and CSIRO take a digital approach to weight loss programs through an app that gives you access to resources like meal plans, weight loss education articles and even movement tracking.
You’ll also notice both programs use a quiz to determine your mindset and motivation and how your psychology can inform your weight loss goals and program. Plus, both programs take a science-based approach to weight loss that’s designed to help you build healthy habits for life.
Noom vs CSIRO: What’s different?
There’s a stack of important differences you need to know about, too.
The CSIRO program stems from a 12-week diet program that participants can use as a starting point for weight loss. Noom differs in that it’s a subscription-based weight loss program that allows you to go at your own pace. That is, it’s more flexible — you can use us for as little or as long as you need.
Another key difference? Your brain. The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet draws on nutritional science, whereas the Noom uses psychology and behavioural science to understand your relationship with food and spark long-term behavioural changes. By harnessing the power of psychology, Noom is better placed to personalise your experience and ensure you’re getting to the root cause of your habits.
Another key differentiator is the food that’s recommended on each program. The CSIRO diet recipes follow a high-protein and low-GI diet. On the other hand, nothing is really off-limits with Noom. Instead, Noom believes in balance and categorises food into three colour-coded categories; green (most nutritious), yellow and orange (least nutritious and most calorie-dense).
Rather than telling you what to eat or making you follow strict guidelines, Noom provides a framework for thinking about food and why you eat. The end goal is to progressively shift from foods with a high caloric density and low nutritional value to those with high nutritional value and low caloric density.
Plus, Noom uses personal coaching and community support in the program to keep you motivated and progressing towards your goals. On the other hand, the CSIRO diet offers a group-based community, with one-on-one coaching only available at an additional cost.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for a holistic approach to building healthy habits for life, its important to look for a program (like Noom) that goes beyond diet plans. By harnessing psychology and behavioural science, Noom helps you unlock internal motivation, shift your habits and feel empowered about your health choices.
