They don't need specific numbers but overall size, the kind of estimate that we can make without putting someone on a scale, can play into things. It's not about that you weigh 220 and not 190 so much as 220 and not 110.

Count me in as another "professional shoe fitting" advocate! :) I worked out on regular old sneakers (whatever was on sale at Target or whatever) for years, and running was always so painful! Shin splints, foot pain, you name it. I thought that was normal. Ever since I went to the local running store and got some shoes that fit my foot and stride, running has been a way more positive experience. Foot and leg pain is gone, now I'm free to focus on my side stitches! :D

I wasn't asked what I weighed, I don't think any store does... I was obviously about 70 pounds overweight when I went and bought my pair, and I was nervous about being in a store with so many serious athletes... but of course no one minded me being there, and I'm sure a lot of people, if they even noticed, would have been happy to see that I was taking a step in the right direction. :) The woman who did my fitting wasn't particularly friendly, which I thought might have been because of my obvious lack of running skills (though she still did a great job finding the right shoes for me), but when I came back a few weeks later to start my running class, she was my coach!! And I found out she was just an unfriendly person to everyone. (fortunately I was just a little too fast for her group and got to move up to another, super friendly coach! :)

Anyhow, yeah! Real running shoes, chosen by someone who understands how your feet work. I paid $90 for mine, but next to my Gowear Fit I can't think of money better spent on my health. You really don't want to screw up your feet!