Couple builds weight-loss app focused on science, not gamification
Ryan Groome and Eveline's Steady Scale app launched this month with neutral language and no badges or streaks. It calculates realistic timelines for weight-loss goals based on user data.
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After years of moving to Ottawa and losing sight of his health, experimental physicist Ryan Groome decided to build a weight-loss app that actually worked — for him and others like him.
In March 2026, Groome realized during a bus ride that he'd gained 70 pounds. He bought his first scale and was ready to change. But after trying popular weight-loss apps, he found they didn't fit his needs. "I started logging my weight. I started with a lot of other apps, but none were really the right fit for me," he said. "I put in weeks of effort without seeing results and, without a clear picture of what my weight loss journey would look like, I quit trying."
Frustrated, he used his background in physics and coding, combined with his wife Eveline's knowledge of health sciences and kinesiology, to build something different. "I decided to write some Python code and plot it out myself. I just obsessed over it for a few weeks, but it really became a useful tool," he said.
Steady Scale launched on Apple's App Store this month. Users select what they want to track — weight loss, weight gain, or maintenance — set a goal, and the app calculates a realistic timeline based on input data.
The app deliberately removes common features: no badges, no streaks, no engagement mechanics. "There's no engagement mechanics at all," Groome said. "We had notifications built into the app at one point, but through a lot of long discussions we decided on the tone and philosophy we wanted to communicate to someone on their health journey. Body language is neutral throughout the app. A lot of it is to inform in an objective and neutral way."
With weight often a delicate subject, Groome and Eveline designed the app around "guardrails, not gates" — keeping users in control at every step. "We put a lot of effort into making sure that the user is in control at every step and makes the decision that is right for them."
Steady Scale generates revenue on a subscription model: US$1.99 monthly or US$14.99 yearly.
The facts
When did Steady Scale launch?
Steady Scale launched on Apple's App Store in July 2026.
Who created Steady Scale?
Ryan Groome, an experimental physicist, and his wife Eveline, who has knowledge of health sciences and kinesiology, created Steady Scale.
What features does Steady Scale deliberately exclude?
Steady Scale has no badges, no streaks, and no engagement mechanics or notifications.
How much does Steady Scale cost?
Steady Scale costs US$1.99 monthly or US$14.99 yearly on a subscription model.
