Do feet shrink while losing weight?

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  • I used to wear 8-8.5 wide, now I am wearing 7.5 pretty consistently. I can't wear some of my old shoes at all anymore. I think a lot of it is lack of water retention; i used to get huge ankles on hot days, but have had minimal puffiness this year. I've also gone down ~2 ring sizes. yay!
  • My feet have shrunk slightly as well. Not quite sure how, as they've always been the boniest part of me. My shoes still fit, but sandals are a bit looser.
  • My feet too have gotten smaller...sad part is that I am now unable to wear some of my heels because they're too big; but its a great excuse for shoe shopping ) I went from 8.5-9 to an 8 so far
  • Please help
    Quote: YES! I went down a shoe size, from a 9 1/2 wide to an 8 1/2 average after I lost 80 lbs. But I don't think my feet shrunk/lost fat until I had already dropped around 65-70lbs. But everyone loses differently, so I think it's totally fine that your shoes are already feeling big on you.
    Hello I am also trying to lose 80, pounds
    Do you by any chance think you can help me with some tips and stuff I just don't know where to start!
  • It is plausibly that feet could shrink while losing weight. The reason for this is that when we lose fat, our bodies release water and toxins stored in our adipose tissue. This release of water and toxins can lead to dehydration, which can cause our bodies to lose electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc.). electrolyte imbalances can lead to muscle cramping, weakness, and paralysis - including in the foot muscles. As the foot muscles weaken, the bones and joints in the feet can start to collapse in on themselves, leading to a smaller overall footprint.
  • Absolutely, they do! I remember when I dropped a bunch of weight a couple years ago—like 40 lbs—and one of the weirdest surprises was my shoes getting loose. I’d always been a solid size 9, and suddenly I was floating in my favorite sneakers. It’s not like your bones shrink, but the fat around your feet, especially in the arch and heel, definitely goes down.
  • From my experience, feet can shrink a little as you lose weight, especially if there’s less fat around the arch and ankles, but it usually happens gradually. I’ve had similar issues with my shoes feeling loose and had to contact kicks crew customer service a few times to exchange for smaller sizes. So yes, it’s normal, and keeping an eye on shoe fit as your weight changes is definitely worth it.