No two feet are alike. And, no, we are not talking here about different people with different foot lengths and widths. Even when it comes to the same person, there are often small differences between their feet. In fact, about 60% of the population has different sized feet, according to one study. Most people have one foot that’s both larger and wider than the other and need to wear different shoe sizes for each foot. Unfortunately, most of us opt for one shoe size or the other and purchase footwear that doesn’t fit properly. In this article, we’ll tell you how to buy shoes if your feet are different sizes and how the incorrect size can affect your health.

Health Concerns When Wearing Wrong Sized Shoes
Having one foot larger than the other doesn’t cause any issues in and of itself. The problems arise when you try to fit your foot in shoes that aren’t the correct size (and we’re talking here both about footwear that is too tight or too loose.)

Shoes that are too tight can cause deformities like bunions, which is a protrusion on the outside of the ball of the foot. Metatarsalgia, or pain in the ball of your foot, is another serious condition that can occur if your shoes are not the correct size. Then, there’s also swelling and irritation where the shoe is too snug or too loose.