How’s Your Diet Going? – Your Feet and Ankles Want to Know

We’re already more than two months into the New Year. That’s 8+ weeks—approximately 60 days since you resolved to eat better and lose weight in 2021. Losing weight is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions there is, and all of us at Clifton Foot & Ankle Center applaud anyone who strives to attain a healthy weight. But if you’re losing motivation, our board-certified podiatrist Kenneth R. Wilhelm, DPM, is here to remind you of four compelling reasons to stick with it: your two feet and your two ankles.
You can lose unwanted pounds by:
- Preventing foot and ankle problems from developing. Being overweight is associated with plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, stress fractures, and bunions. Extra weight can even alter the way you walk, changing how your feet move and possibly weakening your tendons and ligaments. Extra pounds can also make you more likely to fall and injure your lower limbs.
- Helping existing problems get better. Reduced pressure on your feet may not completely fix your osteoarthritis or flat feet, but it can help you better tolerate the discomfort. It’s also likely to slow the progression of your issue.
- Reducing your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, since being overweight is a significant risk factor for developing this foot-threatening disease.
If you’re struggling with your diet, here’s another encouraging tip: you don’t have to lose a considerable amount of weight to reap the health benefits. Start with a modest goal, perhaps 10% of your current body weight (20 pounds for a 200-pound person). Studies show that losing just 5-10% of your body weight can lower your cholesterol, improve your blood pressure, and reduce your heart disease risk. Also, if you’ve got prediabetes, losing a modest amount of weight can pull you off the path that ends in full-blown diabetes.
So, if the lure of National Cheese Doodle Day (yes, it’s a thing, and it’s on March 5) threatens to overwhelm you, look downward. Remember what you eat affects your feet. Remember, to call (703) 996-3000 or click here when you need help with a foot or ankle problem any time of the year. We’re located in Centreville, convenient to patients in Fairfax County, northern Virginia, and the western suburbs of D.C.