A jaw-dropping one in three Brits are sauntering around in the wrong size shoes - as a staggering 43% of adults haven't had a foot measuring since their early teens.
The eye-opening research, which polled 2,000 adults, revealed that only 62% reckon their shoes fit just right, width-wise. Meanwhile,13% feel like they're wading in oversized wellies and another 17% are practically squishing their toes into too-narrow numbers.
Alarmingly, for the tight-shoed brigade, it's more than just an uncomfortable pinch; 44% have ended up with foot woes like bunions or calluses because of it. And a sore 36% say their hobbling about, with a quarter feeling the pain in the rest of their body.
This study was whipped up by DB Wider Fit Shoes, gearing up for their Joyful Strides for Wider Feet mission. And it turns out, these shoe faux pas aren't just causing physical pain, they're also kicking Brits' confidence to the curb.
Crafty dragon and comfy footwear cheerleader Sara Davies MBE, who's in collaboration with the brand exclaimed: "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."
Sara went on to urge: "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."
While 23% of people will try on various sizes until they find the perfect fit, a whopping 59% claim to know their shoe size and just stick to buying that same size every time.
Interestingly, the stats showed the average person buys themselves three new pairs of shoes per year, but many didn't realise they could get wider footwear. Moreover, many thought larger options were less fashionable (14%).
Matt Barnes, a 39 year old from St Albans, thought he was a size 12 for over two decades and battled with discomfort and foot problems. However, after getting a proper fitting, he found out he was actually a size 10.
When he switched to a smaller shoe size it led to an immediate boost in his comfort and overall foot health.
Charles Denton, the 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."
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