A staggering 43% of adults in Britain have admitted they haven’t had their feet measured since the tender age of 13, leading to over a third wearing incorrectly sized shoes.
The findings emerge from a survey involving 2,000 adults, revealing that only 62% believe their shoes fit properly in width, with some complaining shoes are either too wide (13%) or excessively tight (17%).
Alarmingly, those suffering from poorly fitted footwear report serious consequences including bunions or calluses for 44%, hindered walking capabilities for 36%, and even pain in other parts of the body for 24%.
Commissioned by DB Wider Fit Shoes as part of its Joyful Strides for Wider Feet initiative, the study underscores the crucial impact of shoe fit on British confidence levels, with 16% feeling less assured and 12% finding daily activities more challenging due to ill-fitting shoes.
Dragon’s Den star Sara Davies MBE, collaborating with the brand and vocal about her own foot issues, commented: “It’s unbelievable to see how many people are still not measuring their feet, despite knowing how important it is for their comfort and health.”
She strongly advocates for ongoing awareness, highlighting the drive’s objectives: “This campaign has made a fantastic start in raising awareness, but we need to keep pushing. It’s not just about walking comfortably; it’s about empowering people to live healthier, more confident lives.”
Moreover, the analysis highlights that the average Brit purchases three pairs of shoes per year, prioritising comfort and cost over the appropriate fit.
While a quarter of people will try on different sizes until they find the best fitting pair, two thirds claim to know their shoe size and simply just buy that same one each time.
Interestingly, many didn’t know they could get wider footwear or considered larger options to be less stylish. The research, conducted via OnePoll, discovered that 28% of people weren’t aware that different widths of shoes were even available.
Matt Barnes, a 39 year old from St Albans, believed he was a size 12 for more than 20 years and struggled with discomfort and foot issues. However, after having a fitting, he discovered he was actually a size 10, with a switch to a smaller shoe size leading to an immediate improvement in his comfort and overall foot health.
Charles Denton, managing director of DB Wider Fit Shoes, commented: “We each walk thousands of steps each day, but there are a large number of people doing this in ill-fitting shoes. Not only is this often uncomfortable but it could lead to more serious and longer lasting problems with your feet.
“We are often very careful about measuring children’s feet when they are young, but we seem to get out of this habit as we get older, simply assuming our feet will always stay the same size.”