Autumn’s arrival has prompted a new alert from footwear experts, warning that many people may be walking in shoes that don’t fit their feet properly.
Charles Denton, Managing Director of DB Wider Fit Shoes, has pointed out that adults rarely get their feet remeasured, despite the fact that size and shape naturally evolve with age.
“Our Foot Health Awareness Survey highlights a huge gap in how people buy and wear shoes,” Denton said. “Most adults assume their shoe size never changes, but this simply isn’t true.”
The survey, which questioned 2,000 UK adults, found that nearly three-quarters haven’t had their feet measured since their teenage years, leading many to purchase footwear that no longer fits.
“Your feet actually change over time, becoming both longer and wider with age,” Denton explained. “Yet most people just keep guessing their size or sticking with whatever they’ve always worn, even if it no longer fits properly.”
Seventeen percent of participants said their shoes were too narrow, while 70% admitted they didn’t know how to identify the correct fit.
Denton warned that such habits are damaging over time. “Of those wearing ill-fitting shoes, many report foot problems like bunions, calluses, and pain that can spread to the knees, hips, and even the back,” he said. “Ill-fitting shoes can trigger a chain reaction, from foot pain to joint strain and long-term mobility issues.”
He also dispelled a widespread myth. “Price doesn’t always indicate quality when it comes to proper fit,” he explained. “What really matters is whether the shoe matches your actual foot measurements, and that includes both length and width. Too many people only focus on size numbers, when width is just as important.”
