Our Skilled Austin Podiatrists Discuss How Your Weight Directly Affects Your Foot Health
Your feet are the foundation of your entire body, and the more you weigh, the more impact they must absorb with each step you take. If you’re overweight, the extra pounds can result in knee, hip, and back problems because you will likely stand and walk differently. To reduce the stress on your feet and ankles, it is important to maintain a healthy body weight. 
The top-rated foot doctors at Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists treat foot and ankle conditions that can be made worse in people who are overweight or have obesity. Here, we discuss how carrying extra weight can impact the health of your feet and ankles.
Conditions Created and Aggravated by Obesity
Half of all Americans are overweight, and this places them at risk for a variety of foot and ankle issues. Obesity changes how the body moves, which can lead to chronic injuries. People with obesity are also more prone to medical issues that can indirectly impact foot health. As foot health deteriorates, it becomes more painful and difficult for people to get proper exercise, which contributes to further increases in their weight, creating a vicious cycle. People who are overweight often spend a third more on medical care than people of medically recommended weight. Obesity can factor into the following foot and medical conditions:
Plantar Fasciitis
When excess stress is placed on the fascia, the tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot and connects the heelbone to the toes, it can become inflamed. This can lead to pain and stiffness, making it difficult to walk. Carrying extra weight can place extra stress on the fascia, sometimes creating a painful condition known as plantar fasciitis.
Gout
Gout is a medical condition that occurs when uric acid builds up in the body, causing sharp crystals to lodge in the joints. Kidneys typically rid the body of uric acid, but when a person is overweight, their kidneys don’t work as efficiently, which significantly increases the risk of developing gout.
Osteoarthritis
Obesity is the most important risk factor in the occurrence and progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Being overweight doubles a person’s risk of developing OA. Articular cartilage is destroyed in joints that are overloaded with excess weight. Insulin resistance and poor immune response are also significant factors.
Diabetes
People who are overweight are at higher risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to the following:
- Neuropathy. Neuropathy occurs when there is damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. This medical condition can cause a decrease in sensation and prevent a person with diabetes from realizing if they injure their feet.
- Poor circulation. Decreased blood flow can make it more difficult for wounds to receive the oxygen they need to heal properly, making it more likely for a person to develop foot ulcers. Foot ulcers can lead to infection, hospitalization, gangrene, and sepsis. To save a patient’s life, doctors are sometimes left with no other choice but to amputate when foot ulcers become seriously infected. After an amputation, a patient has decreased mobility, making it more difficult to get exercise and adding to their struggle with obesity.
Additionally, high blood sugar also allows bacteria to thrive. As a result, if germs manage to enter the body through a diabetic foot ulcer, it is difficult for the body to fight off the bacteria.
How Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists Can Help
Our podiatrists understand that there are many reasons why a person’s weight might be higher than they would like it to be. We place high value on patient education to help you improve your health in a way that works with your lifestyle. We can help patients who are struggling with obesity to:
- Develop plans for healthy eating that promote weight loss and keep blood sugar in a healthy range
- Find ways to stay physically active without making foot and ankle issues worse
- Strengthen feet and ankles with stretches and exercise
- Avoid amputation should they become high risk for diabetic foot problems
- Select footwear that will reduce the load on their feet and ankles
