Noom Partners with Awe Expert Dacher Keltner for National Awe Day

PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 04, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Noom, the leading behavior change company, has announced a significant expansion of its mission by bringing on board Dacher Keltner, PhD, a renowned researcher on the science of awe. Keltner, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and founding director of the Greater Good Science Center, will serve as an advisor to Noom, helping to translate awe research into practical, everyday wellness practices.

The partnership between Noom and Keltner includes the establishment of National Awe Day, scheduled for May 18, 2027. This day is designed to encourage people to experience wonder through a simple 15-minute Awe Walk. Participants are invited to step outside, ideally in an unfamiliar place, put away their phones, slow down, and turn their attention outward, noticing the extraordinary in the ordinary. This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote emotional wellbeing and strengthen social connections.

Geoff Cook, CEO of Noom, emphasized the importance of emotional wellbeing in overall health.

This event aims to explore how experiences of wonder, from nature and art to music and human connection, can become intentional practices supporting everyday wellbeing.

Noom has a history of integrating art and wellbeing into its offerings. Since launching in October 2025, Noom’s award-winning Mindful Art Break, a two-minute, in-app experience combining curated artwork with mindfulness prompts, has reached more than 350,000 members. About half of participating users return weekly, while 72% of surveyed users report feeling more focused and present after the experience.

Research on the benefits of awe is also robust. A randomized study of 60 healthy older adults found that those assigned to weekly 15-minute awe walks for eight weeks experienced greater increases in positive social emotions and greater decreases in daily distress compared to those taking ordinary walks. A separate 22-day study of more than 400 adults and healthcare professionals found that on days participants experienced more awe than usual, they also reported less stress and greater well-being, with exploratory evidence linking awe to fewer physical symptoms.

Keltner’s work, as detailed in his 2023 scientific review published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, describes several proposed pathways from awe to mental and physical health, including greater social integration, meaning, and physiological changes. This review underscores the potential of awe as a tool for enhancing emotional wellbeing and reducing stress.

Noom’s CEO, Geoff Cook, expressed optimism about the potential of this partnership.

National Awe Day, recognized by the National Day Council, will invite people everywhere to experience wonder through a simple, 15-minute Awe Walk. This event will coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month and International Museum Day, creating opportunities for participation through parks, museums, schools, workplaces, and communities. All National Awe Day resources will be free, with no Noom account or app required.

Noom has been recognized for its groundbreaking diabetes prevention programs and has received multiple grants from the NIH for digital health research and innovation. The company has also been honored as a TIME100 Industry Leader and a Newsweek Most Trusted Brand.