New research suggests that an increase in fat, not total body mass index, was a better indicator of an increased risk of foot pain.
To come to this conclusion, researchers analyzed health data and the presence of foot pain in a large number of individuals over the course of 12 years. Researchers asked patients to reveal if they suffered from foot pain during three separate periods, from 1999 to 2003, from 2004 to 2006 and between 2008 and 2010. After looking at the data, researchers found that the odds of having foot pain in the second stage of the study increased 8 percent for every unit increase on the fat mass index.
Additionally, researchers reported:
- The odds of experiencing foot pain in the third stage of the study increased 6 percent for each fat mass index increase at stage 2.
- BMI and FMI were collected for participants who were experiencing foot pain, but researchers said only FMI proved significant in terms of predicting a likely increase in foot pain.
- Those participants with a higher-than-normal fat mass index were more likely to have related health symptoms, like depression, diabetes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and poor general health.
- Not surprisingly, researchers also suggested that exercise played a preventative role in the development of foot pain.
Researchers suggest that the results indicate that increases in fat mass index are a better predictor of foot pain than increases in body mass index.
“The clinical implications of our findings are that FMI but not BMI is associated with both prevalent and the development of foot pain after multivariable analysis in adults age ≥50 years,” the authors stated. “Given the association of FMI with future foot pain, patients with increased fat are at risk of developing foot pain and should be counselled as such, particularly given increased fat mass is modifiable and should not be considered as a chronic condition.”
Dr. Silverman comments
This is an interesting look into Fat Mass Index as a predictor of future foot pain, but the ultimate conclusion – that excess fat could lead to foot pain – really isn’t that revolutionary. Increased fat will cause your feet to bear more weight, which can cause pain.
Also, it should come as no surprise that exercise plays a protective role in foot health. Odds are those who exercised had lower levels of fat, and regular exercise also helps control other health aspects, like diabetes, arthritis and anxiety.
If you want to rid yourself of foot pain, start by ridding yourself of excess fat.
Related source: MedPage Today