Individuals who struggle with obesity are sometimes more susceptible to experiencing problematic foot conditions. For example, some obese individuals are more likely to develop flat feet because their higher body weight makes them exert more pressure on their feet when standing. Therefore, if you suffer from obesity, it might be a good idea to take extra care of the health of your feet. Obese individuals ought to be particularly mindful of ankle sprains because not only does obesity increase your risk of spraining the ankle, it also might make recovery from such an injury more difficult and prolonged. Ankle sprains occur when the foot turns awkwardly and tears or strains the ligaments surrounding the ankle. Obesity also heightens your risk of developing a sprained ankle because the extra body weight increases your instability and reduces balance control, among other things. When recovering from an ankle sprain, obese individuals are also particularly vulnerable. The joints affected by an ankle sprain may take a longer time to heal post-injury in obese individuals because of the detrimental effects obesity has on ankle joint function. Therefore, if you are obese and are trying to recover from an ankle sprain, you might need extra help in managing your symptoms to heal the injury. Contact a podiatrist for any questions you might have about how obesity affects ankle sprains.

Obesity has become very problematic at this point in time and can have extremely negative effects on the feet. If you’re an obese individual and are concerned about your feet, contact John M. Fanelly, DPM from Northeast Philadelphia. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

Obesity and Your Feet

Since your feet are what support your entire weight when standing, any additional weight can result in pain and swelling. Being overweight is one of the main contributors to foot complications.

Problems & Complications

Extra Weight – Even putting on just a few extra pounds could create serious complications for your feet. As your weight increases, your balance and body will shift, creating new stresses on your feet. This uneven weight distribution can cause pain, even while doing the simplest tasks, such as walking.

Diabetes – People who are overweight are at serious risk of developing type-2 diabetes, which has a drastic impact on the health of your feet. As you get older, your diabetes might worsen, which could lead to loss of feeling in your feet, sores, and bruises. You could also become more prone to various infections.

Plantar fasciitis – Pressure and stress that is placed on muscles, joints, and tendons can trigger plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of tissue that forms along the bottom of the foot. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Philadelphia, PA . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.