How Weight Loss Affects Your Feet
When you lose weight, your feet might shrink, possibly even changing your shoe size. Here’s a guide on how weight loss impacts your feet.
As you shed pounds, you might need new clothes, but what about shoes? Your feet can change size too. Experts explain how weight loss can make your feet smaller and what other changes you might notice.
In most cases, weight loss can lead to smaller feet. According to Lauren Wurster, DPM, from the American Podiatric Medical Association, losing weight reduces fat distribution, affecting everything from breast size to skin appearance. While the bones in your feet stay the same, the soft tissue decreases, reducing pressure and swelling. This might make your shoes feel looser.
Sometimes, weight loss can change your shoe size. A study found that people who lost 50-100 pounds saw their shoe size decrease by about one-third. You might also notice a change in foot width, as less pressure on your feet allows tendons and ligaments to relax.
Weight loss can also change how your feet function. Two common changes include:
1. Improved biomechanics: Less weight reduces stress on your feet, decreasing the risk of injury and pain by improving arch shape and reducing over-pronation.
2. Reduced-force footstrikes: Your feet absorb a lot of force when you walk or run. Losing weight can significantly reduce this force, potentially easing foot pain.
Other factors can also change your foot size:
– Pregnancy: Hormones relax ligaments and joints, causing arches to lower and feet to grow.
– Aging: Over time, muscles in your feet loosen, and fat pads thin, affecting foot size.
– Medical conditions: Conditions like arthritis can alter bone structure, affecting foot size and shape.
If you’ve lost weight and noticed your feet are smaller, it’s not your imagination. Reduced body fat and pressure can make your feet appear shorter or narrower. If you experience new foot issues, like sudden pain or swelling, consult a doctor to rule out health problems and ensure you only need new shoes.
