Why are feet getting bigger? (2023)

Why did my feet suddenly get bigger?

Most people gain weight as they get older — and those extra pounds press down on the ligaments and tendons that support your foot. As a result, your foot can widen or lengthen. “It adds up over time,” says Dr. Nicolosi.

Do feet get larger with age?

Do people's feet change as they get older? They don't change in size, necessarily. But feet may get wider, not longer, as we age. They change in their elasticity the same way other body parts do – tissue becomes less tight, causing the increased width and sagging of the arches.

Can your feet randomly get bigger?

No, biologically your feet can't start growing again. The way your bones grow is through areas called growth plates that all young growing bones have within them. Growth plates are made of cartilage and are where your body adds new bone, lengthening your bones.

Do feet get bigger if gain weight?

Feet don't like extra weight

But gaining weight also can cause structural changes in your feet. With gravity and the extra weight putting stress on your feet, they enlarge as your supportive tissues lose strength.

How can I reduce the size of my feet?

Avoid wearing closed-in heels, and opt for breathable, slip-on shoes. You can also change your lifestyle if you're prone to wide feet. You can also wear wider shoes to avoid the ill-fitting ones. Changing your shoe size can help you reduce your feet size and improve your quality of life.

How can I reduce the size of my feet naturally?

Does foot size change with weight loss?

Do feet get smaller when you lose weight? In most cases, yes. While it may not be noticeable for everyone, weight loss does tend to result in smaller feet, says Lauren Wurster, DPM, a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association and a foot and ankle surgery specialist at Foot & Ankle Clinics of Arizona.

What affects your foot size?

Shoe Size Changes

As you age, tendons relax and your feet can naturally widen. 5. Certain medical conditions and medications cause water retention, which can cause foot swelling (and, therefore, size difference). During pregnancy, feet are affected by hormones that often result in an increase in shoe size.

Why am I gaining weight and my feet are swollen?

Fluid retention

This leads to fluid swelling, also known as edema, which can cause your limbs, hands, feet, face, or abdomen to look swollen. People with heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, or those taking certain medications may experience this type of weight gain.

Does diabetes deform your feet?

Although rare, nerve damage from diabetes can lead to changes in the shape of your feet, such as Charcot's foot. Charcot's foot may start with redness, warmth, and swelling. Later, bones in your feet and toes can shift or break, which can cause your feet to have an odd shape, such as a “rocker bottom.”

What does big feet mean for a girl?

Larger female feet are not only literally regarded as a sexual turn-off but, when referred to in proverbs, they usually stand for something else. Metaphorically women's small feet indicate “the right measure” in marital relationships.

Do women's feet keep growing?

When do feet stop growing in females? In girls, feet also stop growing around age 20. They usually start puberty earlier, between ages 8 to 13 years old. During this time, a girl's feet will rapidly grow as she goes through growth spurts.

Why is my body getting wider?

A combination of things happens as we age. We tend to lose muscle mass, so our abdominal muscles aren't as tight as they once were, and the loss of elastin and collagen in our skin allows gravity to have its way so skin starts to sag. Both can cause the waistline to expand.

Can a person feet get smaller?

A situation where feet can become shortened is with neuropathic joints (Charcot joints), where there is damage to the nerves and the bones crumble. This most common reason for this in the United States is diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), where there is a metabolic problem in handling sugars (carbohydrates).

Can your feet decrease in size?

Significant weight loss can cause your feet to lose fat and become smaller. Your foot length and bone structure do not change even when you lose excess weight. However, you might notice that your feet lose some width. When you put on weight, your body distributes the fat across.