Absolutely they do. The kicker is that they get a little fatter all the way around. So those ‘wide-width’ shoes are kind of mis-leading, it is not that the foot gets a lot wider, it is that its circumference overall is bigger.
Even a fairly modest change can be noticeable in the right footwear. My old downhill ski boots were so tight that my feet would go numb over a few hours in them, when I was at my heaviest. Fifteen pounds lighter and they are not a problem.
Another factor, however, is that the fatter someone is, the more apt they seem to be to get swollen feet after they’ve been upright for a long time. I don’t know why this is, but anecdotally it seems to be the case. The swelling can cause a more dramatic effect.
13 years
