It’s a sad fact that 74% of overweight Americans have foot problems. So, while you may wonder what the connection is, at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we know there is a direct correlation between being overweight or obese and the health of your feet. It’s easy to see when you stop and think about it: your feet are carrying the weight of your entire body—the more you weigh the more stress and hard work for your feet. Below are three benefits for your feet to losing weight:

1. Less foot pain—excess weight puts strain on your tendons and joints and can cause a flattening of the arch of your foot. This can increase your risk or the severity of several foot conditions, including:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Tendonitis
• Arthritis
• Sesamoiditis
• Gout

Changes and discomfort in your feet can also lead to problems with your back, hips and knees. If you are experiencing pain in any part of your foot, it’s essential that you make an appointment at our Long Beach office by calling: (562) 420-9800 so that our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley or Dr. Constance Ornelas can examine your feet and determine the source of your foot problem.

2. Prevention of diseases—maintaining a healthy weight can also help lower your risk of certain medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and peripheral arterial disease. These systemic diseases can have devastating affects on your feet like neuropathy and circulation problems.
3. Greater mobility—the less you weigh, the easier it is to be active. Being active can help in losing and maintaining a proper weight. A regular exercise routine will also help keep foot joints flexible and preserve a full range of motion.

The good news is that it doesn’t require a huge drop in weight to see big results for your feet. For example, for every pound you lose, this reduces the pressure on your knees by up to four pounds. If you are concerned that your weight may be affecting the condition of your feet, contact us today for more information.

At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we treat many conditions that are made worse by the patient being overweight. The risk and severity of arthritis in the feet and ankles, metatarsalgia and flat feet, for example, are all increased by obesity. In addition, being obese increases the risk for diseases like diabetes and hypertension, which also have serious health consequences for your feet. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Studies have shown that obese children tend to continue to be obese as adults. For that reason, it’s important to foster healthy lifestyle habits during childhood. Below are some do’s and don’ts to help your child maintain a healthy weight:

Do: strive to have your child spend at least 60 minutes a day being physically active. Encourage them to participate in a wide variety of activities to be sure they get exercise that is aerobic, muscle and bone strengthening. Not all activities have to be organized. Just playing in the yard children are likely to run, jump and climb which will give them all the types of exercise they need.

Don’t: force your child to be active if they complain of foot or ankle pain. If you suspect a podiatric problem is sidelining your child from being physically active, contact our Long Beach office (562-420-9800) for an appointment. Our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley and Dr. Constance Omelas will examine your child’s feet to determine if there is an injury or other disorder that is causing them pain.

Don’t: allow unlimited amounts of time spent in front of a screen. If your child has full-time access to cell phone, television, computer and video games they are less likely to engage in physical activities.

Do: make changes in your family’s eating habits. Increase the number of fruits and vegetables in your menus, replace sugary drinks with water and have healthy snacks readily available. Involve your children in menu planning and grocery shopping and teach them how to make good food choices.

Do: set a regular bedtime for your child or teen that allows them to get enough sleep. Depending on your child’s age, they may need between 8 and 12 hours of sleep per night. Studies show that lack of sleep increases the risk of obesity.

Approximately 1 in 5 children today are obese. Working together, families and communities can help greatly reduce this number with lifestyle choices that will make for healthier children and, ultimately, healthier adults.