Your feet take you anywhere in life.
So if you’ve ever wondered what determines your foot size, here are the “best forward feet,” thanks to a podiatrist’s opinion and more.
Read on to learn the facts about why people have different shoe sizes.
What determines foot size?
There are several different factors that determine foot size.
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“Genetics plays a role in this,” Timothy J. Miller, DPM, FACFAS, a podiatrist at Sunshine Ankle and Foot Experts in Orlando, Florida, told Fox News Digital.
However, this “is not the only determining factor”, he added. “Your lifestyle, including your health history, shoe choice, activity level, and injury history, all play a role in determining the size and shape of your feet.”
Are there any characteristics inherited from certain parents regarding foot size?
There are no specific characteristics of any particular parent regarding foot size, but Miller says your parents’ foot size is a good indication of what size your feet will be.
According to podiatrists, the size of the parents’ feet is a good indication of the size of the child’s feet in the future. (Getty Images)
However, keep in mind that science is inconclusive about which traits are passed from parent to child, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Your “phenotype” is the expression of your genes in determining your physical and mental characteristics – while your “genotype” (your genetic makeup) is the specific characteristics you inherit from each parent, Miller says.
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“Even if you have a genotype that is 50% your mother and 50% your father, the phenotype is an expression of those genes. This is why you can look more like one parent than the other, even if your genotypes are evenly split,” Miller said.
What else affects foot size?
Additionally, there are surprising factors that can also influence foot size.
“People who are often barefoot tend to have larger feet due to adaptation,” says Miller.
Regarding your health history, diseases affecting muscles, tendons, and ligaments can cause your feet to grow or shrink, he said.
“The heavier you are, the more stress and strain on your feet, ankles and legs.” (iStock)
And injuries can be the cause of larger-than-usual feet, Miller says.
Fractures and dislocations can change the shape of the bones and joints, causing the feet to have different shapes and sizes, he said.
Does body weight affect foot size?
Yes, weight affects your foot size.
“The heavier you are, the more stress and strain there is on your feet, ankles and legs,” explains Miller.
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Therefore, your muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments must adapt and become stronger to support your body weight, he says.
“Typically, the heavier you are, the bigger your feet will be,” he adds. However, there are limitations.
“Your feet won’t grow as fast as a child, but a 1/2 to larger shoe size is normal” in adulthood, says one podiatrist. (iStock)
“Your feet won’t grow as fast as they did in childhood, but it’s common to wear shoes a 1/2 size to larger,” says Miller.
Does gender affect shoe size?
Miller points out that men generally have longer legs due to higher levels of growth hormone and testosterone when compared to women.
He also reports that “women typically have wider feet due to adaptation to different shoes.”
Our feet are getting bigger
In the US, the average shoe size is getting bigger.
Thirty years ago, the most popular shoe sizes for men and women were 9.5 and 7.5, respectively, says Healthline.
Currently, the most common shoe sizes are 10.5 for men and 8.5 for women, Healthline also said.
Foot-friendly activities such as walking, cycling, or swimming keep your feet healthy and blood flowing. (iStock)
“This may be related to the increase in overweight and obese individuals,” said the same source.
So make sure you are always fit to wear shoes.
To ensure you’re providing the best nutrition possible, it’s important to have an annual foot health check.
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Your doctor can identify conditions like diabetes or circulation problems by looking at your feet, or treat common problems like calluses, cracked skin, and ingrown toenails, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Staying active is also always a good strategy for your feet.
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Foot-friendly activities such as walking, cycling, or swimming keep your feet healthy and blood flowing.
Be sure to consult a health professional about which activities are best for you and which activities you should avoid, advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For more lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
Erica Lamberg is a contributing reporter for Fox News Digital.
2023-12-12 10:12:44
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