Excessive weight gain not only poses a risk for various health complications like hypertension, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, sleep apnea, hernias, and respiratory issues, but it can also contribute to a lesser-known issue – foot pain, specifically heel pain, without any identifiable cause. The additional pressure exerted on the feet due to obesity can result in discomfort and discomfort, highlighting the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for overall well-being, including the often overlooked aspect of foot health.
Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial in preventing various health complications, including plantar fasciitis. Being overweight can significantly impact your gait and stride, consequently increasing the likelihood of developing this painful foot condition. By focusing on weight loss, you can effectively reduce the risk factors associated with plantar fasciitis and improve your overall foot health.
Obesity Changes the Gait
If you have ever engaged in running or walking at varying weights, you might have noticed a significant contrast in the way it feels. The movement of your feet, commonly referred to as gait, is directly influenced by your body weight.
Obesity can cause changes to your gait, potentially leading to issues with your feet. Particularly, the plantar fascia — that ligament running from your heel to the base of your toes — becomes stiff and weaker over time, leading to pain in the heels.
These changes can occur for various reasons, such as tight calf muscles, flat feet and biomechanical issues that cause your foot and lower leg to be unnaturally flexed or extended. Furthermore, these modifications put undue stress on the plantar fascia which could irritate and tear it.
Obesity Increases Stress
Obesity can cause chronic stress, which in turn raises long-term cortisol levels. These elevated amounts may contribute to weight gain and the development of conditions like obesity-related diabetes, heart disease, or osteoarthritis.
A 2007 study of college women revealed that those who reported higher stress levels in a survey had an increased desire to snack on high-fat, sugary “comfort foods” and consumed more calories than their low-stress counterparts.
These findings support the idea that obesity is a vicious cycle, in which stress, comfort eating, and increased glucocorticoid action (epinephrine) alter the reward system and cause weight gain.
Obesity can lead to health complications such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. It has also been linked to sleep apnea – a disorder where breathing stops and starts repeatedly while asleep – plus increases the risk of osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal issues like knee or hip pain; furthermore it disrupts fertility by preventing certain treatments from working properly.
Obesity Makes the Foot Flat
Obesity is a global health issue. People who are obese have an increased risk of developing diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Obese individuals have an increased chance of developing foot issues like flat feet, pronation, and bunions. These conditions may cause discomfort when walking or standing.
Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight is important for everyone. Losing weight can help alleviate symptoms associated with foot issues and prevent them from worsening.
The more body weight a person carries, the harder their foot arches must work to support them. Furthermore, obesity can weaken tendons and ligaments that make up the structure of one’s feet.
Overworked structures can eventually collapse, leading to flat feet. Over time, this may lead to serious foot issues like plantar fasciitis and other related conditions.
Obesity Causes Inflammation
Obesity can have serious detrimental effects on your health, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain kinds of cancer. Furthermore, obesity increases your likelihood for foot issues.
Obesity can have a significant effect on your feet by inducing inflammation that could eventually lead to plantar fasciitis. This condition involves inflammation of a thick band of connective tissue running from your heel up the front of the foot under the long metatarsals.
The pain typically starts in your heel after exercising or when you stand up from a sitting position. It may become worse with prolonged walking or standing.
Treatments for plantar fasciitis may include stretching, icing the sore spot, and anti-inflammatory medications. A physical therapist can show you exercises you can do at home to ease your discomfort.
You might also like to read:
Plantar Fasciitis
Myofascial Release Techniques for Alleviating Plantar Fasciitis Pain
Foot Strengthening Exercises for Plantar Fasciitis: Building a Strong Foundation
