Heel Pain and Obesity: The Chicken or the Egg?

A new survey has found that heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis, a problem affecting almost a third of people who are overweight, often limits exercise and therefore makes it difficult for people to lose weight. The survey of 381 adult Americans, conducted by Heeling Solutions LLC, (www.heelingsolutions.com) found that 90% of people with heel pain who exercise at least 1 to 2 times per week report that heel pain limits their physical activity. The survey also found that 69% of people reporting heel pain were interested in losing weight, as compared to 58% of the general public.

Plantar fasciitis is the most common type of heel pain and is an example of a physical condition that can prevent or derail a weight loss program. It usually strikes people when they are increasing the amount of physical activity that they do. Be it a runner training for a marathon, a weekend warrior at a weekend tennis game, or an obese person starting to exercise. The change in the amount of stress put on the heel and foot can lead to plantar fasciitis. This can be especially devastating for overweight people who often develop plantar fasciitis as they begin to see progress in their attempt to lose weight.

"It strikes people of all ages and levels of physical activity," says David Nader, an exercise physiologist and advisor to Heeling Solutions, a company focused on helping patients and their doctors resolve heel pain through education and non-invasive techniques. Plantar fasciitis does not discriminate; even pro-athletes in excellent shape get it. For example Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss, who missed last years Pro Bowl, because of plantar fasciitis, or the Pistons Rasheed Wallace, one of this years key players in the NBA finals, who battled plantar fasciitis since late in the 2004 season.

Though in most cases heel problems are not directly causing obesity, it is clear that resolving heel pain is important to staying healthy and losing weight for a large number of people.

"Some diseases like arthritis, tend to greatly reduce a person ability to exercise, and there is little that one can do about them, however, there are others like plantar fasciitis where that need not be the case," according to Dr. Jeffrey Peterson, physician with the Northern California Institute of Sports Medicine, "Most people can recover from plantar fasciitis using conservative means, which can really make a difference in helping people lose the weight."

Many people needlessly suffer from heel pain for years before they do anything about it. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, it is estimated that 2 million people seek treatment for plantar fasciitis every year in the United States, and it is believed that there are several million more who go untreated and suffer needlessly. In most cases the longer a person waits to seek treatment the longer it will take to get rid of it.

If your heel hurts and it is limiting your ability to exercise, its time to get diagnosed and get on the road to recovery.

Daniel Marein-Efron is a former plantar fasciitis sufferer and President of Heeling Solutions LLC http://www.heelingsolutions.com . Mr. Marein-Efron has been involved with a variety of entrepreneurial businesses through his consulting company DMEX Consulting LLC.

---

Breaking Research: Whats a Dieter To Do?

Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight... Read More

Four Common Mistakes that Overweight People Make

I am a Registered Dietitian who has spent over 10,000... Read More

Eat Fat to Burn Fat

For about 50 years now, Americans have been eating low... Read More

How to Lose Belly Fat: Latest Secrets from the Research Labs, Part 1

In this series of articles, you will learn exactly how... Read More

Does A Quick Weight Loss Diet Really Work?

Only if you're trying to fool the scale on a... Read More

Weight Loss Issues - Can You Be Cellulite Free?

One thing I really must say at the outset of... Read More

Tips For Cooking Low Carb

If you are committed to the low carb way of... Read More

Personal Space: Life After Lap-Band Surgery

Have I become invisible or are people just aiming right... Read More

Say No To Obesity

Obesity still remains one of the commonest avoidable causes of... Read More

The One and Only Way to Lose Weight

There is only one way to lose weightThere really is... Read More

Loose 10 Pounds by Drinking Water?

Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot of... Read More

Snooze to Lose Pounds

If you want to find a way to lose weight... Read More

Safe and Permanent Weight Loss Cannot Be Achieved in the Fed State

Weight Loss Axiom Number ThreeInsulin and GlucagonThese are the two... Read More

How To Cop An Attitude With An Overzealous Hostess

We all encounter those hosts and hostesses who feel it... Read More

Carnitine Weight Loss Revealed: Why L-Carnitine Should Be The #1 Weight Loss Drug

Carnitine is simply the safest and healthiest supplement you can... Read More

Are You Losing Body Fat or Water?

"I tried that diet and lost 8 pounds in the... Read More

Tired Of Struggling To Lose Weight?

There are many factors that cause us to increase body... Read More

Questioning Cardio for Weight Loss?

Q: I've heard you mention that you don't need tons... Read More

Grains and Weight Loss--Do Whole Grains Help You Lose Weight?

Whole grains and weight loss have a definite, scientific, and... Read More

Weight Loss and Huricanes? Weathering the Storm!

Do you know this year Florida will go through a... Read More

The Big FAT Lie

Over two thirds of Americans are over weight, and half... Read More

Dieting: A Few Dieting Pitfalls To Avoid

When we gain more weight than is good for us,... Read More

Do You Really Want To Stop Smoking? Or Do You Use The Weight Gain Excuse?

I do not smoke, never have, and admit to being... Read More

7 Power Packed Tips to Help You Lose Weight & Gain Optimal Health

Did you know that what you're eating could be making... Read More

Taking Control of Your Subconscious for Permanent Weight Loss

From the moment of birth your first emotional experiences establish... Read More

Weight Control: Operationalizing Your Plans

We have such good weight loss intentions. We emotionally beat... Read More

Obesity - The Number 1 Health Issue in the US

Obesity is quickly becoming the number one health issue confronting... Read More

Unearth the Weight Loss Values in an Egg

At the University of Illinois, a new research found that... Read More

Lose A Pound

Lose a pound of fat? what does it take? Not... Read More

Be Aware Of Your Reasons

You have decided that you want to lose weight and... Read More

Feeling Tired? Cant Lose Weight? Tap Into Protein Power!

You're always hungry right? The last thing you have time... Read More

How To Maintain Your Weight Loss Motivation

One of the hardest aspects of getting yourself into shape,... Read More

11 Tips for Easy Weight Loss

1. CUT THE SIMPLE CARBS.It's unfortunate that the majority of... Read More