People with foot and ankle problems tend to weigh more than people who don’t, suggesting that the extra weight may be bad for the feet, according to survey findings.
Among more than 6,000 people who responded to the survey, those who said they had foot and ankle pain, had undergone foot surgery, or consulted a doctor about foot pain, tended to weigh more than people who did not report similar problems.
In addition, more than 4 out of 10 people with foot and ankle problems said they believed they had gained weight before the problems started.
“If you gain weight, your feet and your ankles are going to pay the price,” study author Dr. Stuart Miller, member of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Public Education Committee.
Miller noted that the most common foot and ankle problems among overweight people included arthritis in the ankle, and problems in weight-bearing joints and tendons, such as the ankle and joint between the ankle and heel.