See the Weight Loss Apps That Helped One Woman Lose 118 Pounds (2025)

Want to unlock your maximum ability to get lean? Then try one of the best weight loss apps and use it on your phone, tablet or computer. Recent studies show the simple strategy can give you such a huge boost, you’ll literally quadruple your results compared to dieting without an app. “If you want to set yourself up for success, it really is the way to go,” confirms University of Vermont’s Jean Harvey, PhD, RD, who has conducted exciting research on the approach.

Meanwhile, California reader Debbie Ramos, 56, says she’s living proof of how much apps can help. After struggling on every diet under the sun, “I tried using an app and it changed everything,” she shares. “I’m down 118 pounds so far.” Keep reading for Debbie’s inspiring story and to find the app that can help you most.

The best weight-loss apps make getting started simple

There are a zillion different weight-loss apps out there these days, but most have this in common: They give us a solid jumping-off place. “That’s a big deal, since so many people don’t know where to begin,’” shares TODAY show nutrition and wellness contributor Joy Bauer, MS, RDN. With an app, you plug in pertinent info and you’ll get help setting goals and receive science-based tips. “It’s like having a coach in your phone,” says Denise Hernandez, RD, MS, LD, a nutrition expert for MyFitnessPal. You don’t have to read a book or memorize rules. “You can just start.”

Worried you don’t have time for tracking? The good news is that research in the journal Obesity found that once we get the hang of it, using an app takes less than 15 minutes a day, reveals Harvey, who led the study. She adds that you don’t even have to do it every day; track 20 days a month, and results soar.

Of course, apps are not guaranteed to work. Yet a large Stanford analysis determined that a whopping 75% of us will lose faster if we use one.

3 proven ways weight-loss apps supercharge slimming

1. They make you aware of what you eat. The main way apps work is by shining a spotlight on what we put in our mouths. “Most people have no idea how much they actually eat,” notes University of Washington nutrition expert Anne McTiernan, MD, PhD. “Just becoming more aware of calories and nutrition prompts you to make better choices.”

The same basic idea also applies to other habits that impact the scale. For example, one study found apps that track sleep habits lead us to get more Zzzs—and that helps protect lean muscle during weight loss while tripling fat burn, per University of Chicago research. Basically, awareness helps shrink your waist.

2. They lead to ‘aha! moments’. Apps allow you to track when you eat, hunger, mood, blood-sugar levels, exercise, energy, water intake…the list goes on—and you can often begin tracking your food with just a few taps.

“The more details, the better,” says Bauer. “It’ll help you realize which meals are keeping you full and satiated versus ones that leave you feeling hungry later.” You might also notice that exercise helps with your anxiety and comfort-food cravings. Or that eating an earlier dinner speeds up your progress overall. “Small tweaks can have a big effect.”

3. They boost motivation. Stanford scientists not only found apps help a majority of us slim down faster, they also keep us more engaged and consistent, beating out even handwritten logs. One key reason: Apps keep us invested in achieving small daily goals and often use fun graphics that drive us even more—like water glasses that fill up and colorful rings we fill in by hitting certain targets.

There’s even evidence that seeing our daily step count tick higher gets us so excited we walk a lot more. In fact, it helped one group of test subjects lose 19 pounds in 12 weeks compared to just 3 pounds among those who didn’t track.

So which weight-loss app is best? According to the Stanford findings, any app gives you an edge—but the more aspects of fitness you monitor, the slimmer you’ll tend to get. We’ve got great options for you to consider below. Says Harvey: “The one you use most consistently is the one that will help you succeed!”

From stress eating to success: Debbie’s 118-pound weight-loss story

As a lifelong stress eater, Debbie had been trying to drop pounds since college. For years, she stuck mostly to quick-fix diets and pills. “In my mind, you only used an app if you wanted slow, steady weight loss—and I was always going for fast,” she admitted.

What changed? As she got older and hit 286 pounds, her health tanked. Then her dad passed away. “I wanted to help my mom with anything she needed, but at my size, she had to help me,” Debbie confessed.

Her health insurance company, Blue Shield of California, invited her to use a health platform called Wellvolution. So she tried it. “You answer questions and they offer you options to meet your needs,” she explains. “They gave me a free Fitbit and a free Weight Watchers membership, so I downloaded those apps. They even gave me an app called Headspace to help with stress.”

Basically, she became a weight loss app queen. Apps have played a crucial role in guiding and motivating Debbie on her health journey. One of her favorite parts? “My insurance paid for almost all of it,” she says. “They even sent me a free digital scale! If you have insurance, I encourage you to explore what your benefits are. I think you might be very pleasantly surprised.”

No insurance perks? You can still lose weight with free apps

Even if you don’t have great insurance to fall back on, take heart: Studies show you can get amazing benefits from apps like MyFitnessPal and Cronometer, which offer basic features for free. “And you don’t have to use as many apps as I did,” laughs Debbie. “Just start with one and see how far it takes you!”

“It not only helped with things like portions, it gave me insight into what helped most with my mood—like exercise, hydration and getting better sleep. For an emotional eater, that was huge,” she says. “I lost 50 pounds fast!”

Another realization Debbie had was that slacking on tracking slowed her progress. “I hit a plateau and tried Ozempic, but it made me sick,” she recalls. “I learned to just take the 30 seconds after I ate to log what I had.” She’s been losing steadily ever since. Down 118 pounds, “I lost another pound last week!”

Her advice for anyone hesitant about weight-loss apps and technology: “It’ll be way easier than you expect, especially for those of us over 50. We have more resolve and determination! Apps help harness that energy so we crush our goals.”

The best weight-loss apps to boost your results

You can download these options to your phone or tablet. Most have free versions and web apps for use from a laptop or computer.

MyFitnessPal

The free version of this popular app is comprehensive, tracking body weight, daily calorie intake, protein, carbs, fiber, micronutrients, water intake, exercise and more. Guided setup helps you pick goals to improve your overall health, and you can get support in the community forum. Add premium features (like trend reports on your meal choices) for about $7 a month.

Cronometer

Another comprehensive freebie that tracks all things food and physical activity. What sets it apart: You can also include blood-glucose and ketone readings if you test them. Add premium features (like an intermittent fasting timer and nutrition scores for your meals) for about $4 a month.

Simple

While the free version of this one pushes premium services forcefully, it can be worth the effort to navigate around. You’ll get free tracking tools plus a free fasting timer and AI coach that answers questions like, “What should I have for dinner?” Add premium features (like daily personalized check-ins) for about $20 a month.

WeightWatchers

Join the tried-and-true program for about $20 per month to get the WW app, which has everything free apps offer and much more. Highlights: preprogrammed restaurant meal planning, a sleep tracker and a feature that automatically increases how much you can eat if you exercise.

Noom

Noom boasts great features, guiding users to log food, count calories and exercise while offering tools to build new habits, boost mood and overcome emotional eating habits, healing your relationship with food. And some say Noom’s cost (more than $45 a month) motivates them to stick with the app and get their money’s worth.

Additional reporting by Kate Arcell

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.