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After a backlash from users and health experts, Google Maps decided to remove its recent experimental iOS feature that told users how many calories they would burn on a specific walk — and how many “mini cupcakes” that number would add up to.
Storified by CMGNationalNews · Tue, Oct 17 2017 21:27:24
Several users criticized the company for triggering painful experiences for people who have or have had an eating disorder.
hey guys, have you seen the cool new google maps tool? just go under 'walking directions' and hit 'trigger a latent eating disorder' https://t.co/RPjPRV9WqR
More than 30 million people in the U.S. have an eating disorder, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Inc.
Stephanie Zerwas, clinical director of the Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders at the University of North Carolina, told the New York Times that while the feature was meant to encourage walking, those with eating disorders would “fixate on the number,” a mindset counselors try to minimize.
“We’ve gotten into this habit of thinking about our bodies and the foods we take in and how much activity we do as this mathematical equation, and it’s really not,” she said. “The more we have technology that promotes that view, the more people who may develop eating disorders might be triggered into that pathway.”
Another expert, Claire Mysko, chief executive of the National Eating Disorders Association, told the Times that for some, calorie counting isn’t much of an issue.
“But for people who are hyper-focused on numbers, that can feel very oppressive to see calorie counts everywhere when you’re trying to shift your relationship with food.”
Instead, Mysko suggested Google could promote exercise “in terms of strength and how it makes you feel.”
Other iOS users also said the feature reinforced an unhealthy relationship with food and noted previous research has shown exercise isn’t the best way to lose weight in the first place.
Anyone else feel like the google maps mini cupcake feature reinforces the idea that all exercise must be atonement for the sin of eating?
@TaylorLorenz @_eleanorina @googlemaps Not to mention the fact that all the latest studies show exercise does not cause weight loss.
Hindi fonts for windows 10. @googlemaps @verge Calories wildly unreliable unit for weight loss/health. Also triggering af.. no option to turn off = worst nightmare. 😿 pls do better.
the mini cupcake update thing on google maps is really triggering .. especially because you can't turn it off T_T
The eating disorder concern I totally get.The rest seems suspect, but why no toggle on/off feature? Problem solved. https://t.co/jPVZTHr0SA
Cool: @GoogleMaps starting to show calories with walking route. That should help some make a healthy decision. Wonder if @Google can also suggest more rigorous alternate routes (esp for those who hate gyms)? #digitalhealth #healthtech #mhealth #fitness https://t.co/jmDbZ5nLJ0