Google maps pulls calorie-counting feature after backlash

Google Maps received swift social media backlash for a test feature that showed you how many calories you'd burn if you walked to your destination. The feature was pulled Monday night,

and Google confirmed to _BuzzFeed News_ that it was removed in direct response to the negative feedback. The feature, which was developed for iOS only, showed not only the number of calories

a user could burn by walking, but also put the walk in terms of mini cupcakes. This was particularly troubling for some users, who felt it played into unhealthy attitudes about food and

exercise. One of the main complaints was that the feature could be harmful for users dealing with eating disorders, as calorie-counting is a controversial practice in the nutrition world,

and some have argued that a fixation on numbers can lead to an unhealthy obsession. "For some people, that's not an issue at all," said Claire Mysko, the chief executive of

the National Eating Disorders Association in an interview with The New York Times. "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." SUBSCRIBE TO THE WEEK Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple

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to your inbox. From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. While some viewed Google Maps' cupcake feature

as an attempt to promote healthy habits, the short-lived experiment will not be returning for iPhone users. Explore More STEM Speed Reads