How Weight Loss Affects Your Feet (2024)

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. Makes sense when you consider that weight loss reduces fat distribution all over the body, potentially affecting everything from breast size to skin appearance.

“The overall bony structure of the feet doesn’t change, but the amount of soft tissue decreases,” Dr. Wurster says. Plus, as a person loses weight, pressure on feet comes down, too, which can reduce spreading and swelling, Dr. Wurster continues. The result? Your shoes may feel looser than they used to.