Many of the estimated 70 million obese Americans are trapped in a life-threatening vicious cycle: Obesity aggravates foot problems, like heel pain and flat feet; sore feet make it hard to exercise and lose weight; and without exercise, obesity worsens and exacerbates progression of diabetes, heart disease and other serious health threats. I urge obese adults to seek immediate treatment for chronic, activity-limiting foot and ankle problems to foster compliance with physician-directed exercise programs.
It’s unfortunate obese adults get caught up in the vicious cycle of avoiding physical activity due to foot or ankle pain, thereby permitting cardiovascular disease and other life-threatening conditions to worsen as a result. In many cases, chronic heel pain occurs from carrying too much weight. Left untreated, it becomes an impediment to physical activity and meaningful weight loss.”
There’s no reason foot or ankle pain should stop obese patients from exercising. The first step toward breaking that vicious cycle is an evaluation by a foot and ankle surgeon.
Many causes of foot pain can be relieved without surgery through stretching exercises, orthotics and athletic shoes with good shock absorption and support. If a bunion, heel pain or other condition requires surgery, patients can participate during their recovery in non-weight-bearing activities, such as riding a stationary bike, swimming or weight training.
For those moderately to severely overweight, thorough physical examination is mandatory before beginning an exercise program.
Once cleared by your physician to begin exercising, don’t try to do too much too soon. Follow a gradual routine until your body adjusts to the stress of regular physical activity. For example, I counsel overweight patients to avoid working out on treadmills or elliptical machines to minimize pounding and stress on their joints.”
Shedding excess pounds helps diabetic patients control their disease, but many who experience foot ulcerations and vascular problems caused by diabetes might think they shouldn’t exercise.
Every diabetes patient needs regular foot exams to check for possible sore spots and assess nerve sensation. And with proper diabetic foot care and the right footwear, most patients can follow an exercise regimen that is safe and appropriate for them.
Glenn J Donovan, DPM
Dr. Donovan is the Chief of Podiatry at Coney Island Hospital.
For more information on foot problems please contact Dr. Donovan at 718-616-5509
Thanks for sharing, I found this story, while searching for some downloads and ran across this site, thoughtful comments and good points made.
Your informative article reminds all of us of the importance of exercise and to take “baby steps” even if walking is a challenge. Each day it becomes easier and easier to stay healthy when one exercises. I find, for me, that the positive endorfins (sp?) elevate my mood and I am less likely to snap at someone for I know that I have chosen to take care of myself and to take control of my health. However subconcious it is – I know that my day is always better when it includes a smim or a jog. There are fabulous facillities at Brooklyn Sport Club , there evening water aerobics is perfect for us heavy set people trying to fat the battle of the bulge.!
Thank you for the information that is very helpful to many.
So happy to digest such a interesting post that does not fall back on cheap rhetoric to get the point across. Thanks for an entertaining read.
Such an informative site thanks for this information.
I really enjoy what you blog about here, very refreshing and smart. One issue though, I’m running Firefox on Fedora and some of your content are a little wonky. I realize it’s not a popular setup, but it’s still something to to keep in mind. Just tossing you a heads up.
Thanks for the great post I was searching for information for a article im writing
I recently lost over 60lbs and went from size 42 waist to a 34. Exercise was a huge factor, but I would have to say what we eat and when is a more crucial factor. I try to eat 5-6 smaller protein-rich meals with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, I eat my biggest meal of the day in the morning and taper off with subsequent ones throughout the day. This helps get the metabolism going and keeps the appetite under control. Obese people often eat less than I do, except they skip breakfast, chug sugary sodas all day, snack on greasy carb-laden junk food and then gorge before dinner and up until bedtime. By doing that, you are essentially telling your body to store fats and metabolize foods at a slower rate.
I want to be (borderline) model thin. I adore the thin look and would like to achieve it.
I just started reading your site – thanks for writing. I wanted to inform you that it’s not displaying correctly on the BlackBerry Browser (I have a Blackberry 9700). Anyway, I am now subscribed to the RSS feed on my PC, so thanks again!
I REALLY liked your post and blog! It took me a minute bit to find your site…but I bookmarked it. Would you mind if I posted a link back to your post?
Hi there, awesome site. I thought the topics you posted on were very interesting
I really enjoyed this post. I can tell you put in a great deal of effort and time into this post. I will be back to read more as you post more!