Posts for tag: weight loss
Considering that your feet support the weight of your entire body, it is not surprising that being overweight can lead to foot problems. Excess weight has been related to a variety of painful foot conditions such has tendon inflammation, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis. You do not have to be extremely obese to run into problems, even an extra 25 pounds can lead to foot pain. For those that are obese, these problems can multiply. Too much weight changes how people walk and stand. It is typical for obese people’s knees come close together when walking. This shifts the body’s weight to the inside of the feet causing increased stress to the arches and tendons of the foot and ankle.
Being overweight makes you more likely to develop several conditions that can lead to foot pain. Gout is a condition caused by uric acid crystals accumulating in your joints. This can cause a sharp, severe pain typically found in the big toe. Being overweight makes you more likely to develop gout by increasing the body’s production of uric acid. Also, being overweight is one of the main factors for developing diabetes. Among other things, diabetes can lead to numbness in your feet. The reduced blood flow found in diabetics can lead to small injuries turning into major infections. Increased weight places you at an increased risk for peripheral arterial disease. This condition is marked by an accumulation of plaque in the walls of arteries in the legs causing a decrease in blood flow.
One concern for people that have weight-related foot conditions is how to get the physical activity required for weight loss without causing foot injuries. Low-impact aerobic activities such as water aerobics are great ways to lose weight while preventing foot pain. A podiatrist can make sure your shoes are the right size, type, and offer the proper support. It is important to start exercising gradually, and avoid activates that cause pain.