How Obesity Impacts Your Feet

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Our society attaches strong stigmas to obesity, but here at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center we’re hopeful that’s changing. Social media is buzzing with discussions about weight bias and weight shaming. We’re reminded that “healthy” comes in many shapes and sizes and that people experience pain or sickness for a lot of reasons that have little to do with their weight.  

People experience foot problems for many reasons, too. Foot pain comes about as a result of injury, overtraining, certain medications, diseases, biomechanical imbalances, and genetics. However, there’s no denying that being overweight can be a significant factor, too. 

September Is Obesity Awareness Month 

Our board-certified podiatrists Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, and Dr. Joseph Saka want you to heighten your awareness of how obesity contributes to foot problems. Our decades of experience have shown us that being overweight is directly related to

  • Weakened ankles, leading to frequent ankle sprains

  • Flat feet - the breaking down of the structures that hold your arch together

  • Overpronation - ankles that turn inward and cause too much pressure on the inside of the foot and can, in turn, lead to knee, hip, and back problems

  • Plantar fasciitis - inflammation of the large ligament in the bottom of your foot that causes severe heel and arch pain 

Furthermore, being overweight can make existing problems worse. If you’ve already got a genetic tendency toward flat feet or bunions, for example, extra weight will likely hasten their progression.   

Excess weight on your body puts a burden on your feet, whether you’re standing, walking, or working out. Talk to our doctors if you’re having any problems with your feet or ankles. From custom orthotics to expert surgery, we offer treatments that can help get rid of your pain. Call us in Monmouth County, New Jersey at (732) 905-1110 for an appointment at our Howell or Jackson podiatry offices. We also welcome your questions or appointment requests online.