Obesity is an increasingly common health issue affecting the bodies and lives of millions of people across the globe. The extra pounds put on the body have more effects on the body than people realize and one major issue can be to the feet. The weight gain adds weight to the feet which puts stress on many different parts of the foot. This has proven in many studies that there is a link between obesity and foot pain and has specifically been shown to affect older populations greatly. A study published by Mickle and Steele showed that those with a higher body mass index, or BMI, have more foot disorders than those with lower BMI’s.
Obese people have to bear a heavier load on their feet which can lead to severe problems like plantar fasciitis – the heel pain caused by the inflammation of plantar fascia which is a band of tissue that links your heel to your toes. Excess weight can also lead to flat feet, a condition in which arches of the feet collapse due to the heavy weight. This can cause pain and discomfort while walking (Butterworth et al., 2012; Dufour et al., 2017).
According to a study by Tanamas, et al (2012) excess body fat impacts the health of the feet. The researchers concluded that the extra weight exerts an increased force on the feet which can exacerbate current conditions and also induce new conditions in the feet and feet-related structures. Foot conditions can also hinder physical activity as a result of pain or discomfort and which in turn leads to further weight gain and a general deterioration in health.
Obesity is an issue that affects not only grown adults, but young children as well. Children with excess weight are more likely to develop flat feet or significant changes in their foot shape and size, all of which can contribute to similar issues as in the obese adult population, as reported by Morrison et al. (2018). This can hinder a children’s development, athletic performance and overall willingness to be physically active.
Obesity and Foot Health: The Connection Understanding the relationship between obesity and foot health is critical. More than just a condition, it can serve as an important warning sign and promote prevention measures to stop some common foot conditions from developing. Helping an obese patient manage their weight and encourage them to adopt healthy life styles can greatly benefit their feet. Suggesting more activity, a balanced diet and proper foot care can all have a positive impact on foot health, as well as suggesting well supportive shoes in an effort to reduce some of the pressure felt by the obesity on the foot.
The importance of foot health in relation to obesity should not be underestimated. As a person increases in weight they are at risk of developing a host of debilitating conditions of the foot. Bringing the relationship of obesity and foot health to the light can empower individuals who struggle with excess weight and accompanying foot issues with greater awareness and remediation strategies to improve the quality of life. Obesity has been implicated in a range of foot conditions associated with the increased load bearing on the feet. These can include: plantar fasciitis, bunions and flat feet and can lead to significant pain and disability affecting the ability to walk and stand for long periods. Stewart et al. ( 2016) explored the incidence of post-operative complications following forefoot surgery in obese patients and identified a higher risk of surgical complications in those with a higher Body Mass Index.
Obesity is not only a health risk, but it can also affect the way people walk. In a study published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, Butterworth et al. ( 2015) showed that obese people can develop unusual foot postures due to their increased weight, such as overpronation (fallen arches or flat feet). As the study indicated, the condition of flat feet was found to be more prevalent in middle-aged obese individuals. Flat feet develop when the arches of the feet collapse, causing the entire foot to be flat and in constant contact with the ground. This change in foot structure can cause significant pain and further complications to the foot.
Preventative care is vital to maintaining foot health in the obese population. Often the weight can contribute to foot problems, and therefore, weight reduction is recommended. In addition to this, any excess weight lost through diet will also take pressure off the feet and therefore discomfort and complications are less likely. Promoting a gradual and safe level of exercise is also an excellent method of aiding with weight loss as well as providing a low-impact form of exercise, which can also benefit the foot. Simple walking and swimming are excellent low-impact exercises.
In addition to weight loss, proper footwear is very important for foot health. Most foot problems are caused by poorly fitting shoes that do not provide adequate arch support and can lead to high pressure points on the foot that cause bunions and plantar fasciitis. Obese individuals require more room in their shoe and the shoe should be more cushioned to help absorb the shock that they put on their feet and to try and prevent flat feet from bowing or becoming misaligned.
Foot check-ups are another thing to bear in mind. Remembers to check feet and toes for anything out of the ordinary. They can get blisters, patches of thick skin like calluses, changes in the colour of the skin and also injuries like cuts, puncture wounds etc. A podiatrist may also recommend certain orthotics and treatments that can further benefit the foot health of the child.
Obesity is a common contributing factor to a number of conditions in the foot. A range of problems occur because of the increased pressure that is exerted on the feet and also because of the way the foot arches in an attempt to distribute the weight more evenly, leading to conditions such as flat feet and plantar fasciitis. The best way to reduce or prevent foot problems related to excess weight is by managing weight, through appropriate footwear and by regular checks. By improving foot health obese patients can generally experience a better quality of life. It is therefore essential that there is a full understanding of the effect obesity has on the structure and function of the foot and a greater awareness of treatments and prevention methods to be implemented.
Citations:
Mickle, K.J. and Steele, J.R., 2015. Obese older adults suffer foot pain and foot-related functional limitation. Gait & posture, 42(4), pp.442-447. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966636215007419
Dufour, A.B., Losina, E., Menz, H.B., LaValley, M.P. and Hannan, M.T., 2017. Obesity, foot pain and foot disorders in older men and women. Obesity research & clinical practice, 11(4), pp.445-453. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871403X16304161
Morrison, S.C., McCarthy, D. and Mahaffey, R., 2018. Associations between obesity and pediatric foot dimensions. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 108(5), pp.383-389. https://japmaonline.org/view/journals/apms/108/5/16-172.xml
Butterworth, P.A., Landorf, K.B., Smith, S.E. and Menz, H.B., 2012. The association between body mass index and musculoskeletal foot disorders: a systematic review. Obesity reviews, 13(7), pp.630-642. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2012.00996.x
Tanamas, S.K., Wluka, A.E., Berry, P., Menz, H.B., Strauss, B.J., Davies‐Tuck, M., Proietto, J., Dixon, J.B., Jones, G. and Cicuttini, F.M., 2012. Relationship between obesity and foot pain and its association with fat mass, fat distribution, and muscle mass. Arthritis care & research, 64(2), pp.262-268. https://acrjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/acr.20663
Stewart, M.S., Bettin, C.C., Ramsey, M.T., Ishikawa, S.N., Murphy, G.A., Richardson, D.R. and Tolley, E.A., 2016. Effect of obesity on outcomes of forefoot surgery. Foot & Ankle International, 37(5), pp.483-487. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1071100715624209
Butterworth, P.A., Urquhart, D.M., Landorf, K.B., Wluka, A.E., Cicuttini, F.M. and Menz, H.B., 2015. Foot posture, range of motion and plantar pressure characteristics in obese and non-obese individuals. Gait & posture, 41(2), pp.465-469. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966636214007772
Gross, C.E., Lampley, A., Green, C.L., DeOrio, J.K., Easley, M., Adams, S. and Nunley, J.A., 2016. The effect of obesity on functional outcomes and complications in total ankle arthroplasty. Foot & Ankle International, 37(2), pp.137-141. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1071100715606477
Kumar, M., Sanghi, D., Kataria, J. and Arya, P., 2021. Association of flat foot with obesity in middle-aged individuals. Int J Res Pharmaceutical Sci, 12(2), pp.1102-7. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Manish-Kumar-505/publication/350707954_Association_of_flat_foot_with_obesity_in_middle-aged_individuals/links/64dc5d5578e40b48bd4ce15e/Association-of-flat-foot-with-obesity-in-middle-aged-individuals.pdf
Bhattacharjee, N., Maji, S., Pal, B. and Goswami, M., 2024. Understanding the role of ethnicity, age, sex and obesity on foot morphology: a systematic review. Papers on Anthropology, 33(1), pp.15-46. https://ojs.utlib.ee/index.php/PoA/article/view/24656
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