PhotoStephanie Zerwas, the clinical director of the Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders at the University of North Carolina, was trying to find a restaurant in Orlando, Fla., last weekend, so she put the address into Google Maps for directions. She was baffled to see a new feature: The iPhone app told her that walking instead of driving would burn 70 calories. While it was perhaps meant as an incentive to walk, those with eating disorders might instead fixate on the number, a dangerous mind-set that counselors try to minimize, she said. Calorie counting has long been a contentious topic at the nexus of nutrition, exercise and eating disorders. Sign Up You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services.

Source: New York Times October 17, 2017 17:29 UTC