Is foot size getting bigger across the generations?

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate whether there was a variation in foot size between generations. This is a general population survey study conducted in Turkey between January and July 2022. The questionnaire consisted of five questions, including age, gender, height, weight, and shoe size. Survey questions were prepared on a digital platform, and participants completed the survey online via their computers or smartphones. The European shoe sizing system was used for shoe sizes. Four groups were formed (1^st generation 18–25 years old, 2^nd generation >25–50 old, 3^rd generation, >50–75 years old and 4^th generation >75 years old), from the new generation to the old generation. A total of 3196 subjects, 1425 (44.6%) women and 1771 (55.4%) men, were included in this study. The mean age of women was 41.6 ± 14.3 (range 18 to 97) years, and the mean age of men was 42.9 ± 13.2 (range 18 to 99) years. While height-weight adjusted foot size did not differ between generations in the female gender (p = 0.412), adjusted foot sizes were found to differ between generations in men (ANCOVA test p < 0.001). The youngest generation had larger foot sizes than the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th generations (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.009, respectively).The male foot size in the new generation is getting bigger independent of height and weight.

Level of Clinical Evidence: 3