High Heels Can Make You Fat
By ladym33
@ladym33 (10979)
United States
September 28, 2012 10:09am CST
I was just watching some clips from The Dr's TV show here on the internet and I just watched a segment about high heels and how they can cause you to gain weight. When I first heard the subject I thought it was kind of crazy but then I listened and it kind of made sense, it says that women who wear high heels to work each day can gain up to 5 pounds per year because when most women wear high heals they move slower than women who wear flats so they don't burn as many calories, plus they don't get up and walk around as often to do tasks away from their desks so they burn less calories. The only thing I can say is when we had casual Fridays at work where we were allowed to wear tennis shoes and jeans I felt a lot more productive and peppy on those days, so there could be some truth this thing about high heals. Do you have any opinions on this?
4 people like this
14 responses
@hmkoct5 (2065)
• United States
28 Sep 12
I've always wondered why businesses make people dress up. I definitely think that if you are more comfortable, you will be more productive. I know when I wore high heels, I didn't want to move around. I usually kicked them off under my desk and stayed put, so I can definitely see how it would make you burn less calories. I didn't think it would be 5 pounds per year, but yes, I can definitely see high heels hindering productivity.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
28 Sep 12
After reading it I could see where they were coming from. Obviously if our feet hurt we are not going to get up and walk around. At weddings I love to dance a lot so those shoes are usually off within 5 minutes of me hitting the dance floor, that way I can dance all night long. I will put them on to slow dance with my husband though, then I can lean on him. 
3 people like this
@arielpaige (257)
• United States
28 Sep 12
As crazy as that sounded as first, that actually does make sense. And five extra pounds a year, that's not some outlandish claim, leading me to believe it more. High heels are a pain to wear, and no woman LIKES wearing high heels all day long. Sure, for special occasions, they're great. Or for events or activities requiring little standing and walking. But for work or shopping, they should just be illegal! As much as I love my wedge and high-heeled boots, my running shoes or casual shoes are my preferred shoes for activities, work, and errands.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157721)
• United States
28 Sep 12
When I was young, I was a l lot thinner, I also wore heels, but I did not have an office job, at least not one that involved sitting. I operated a lot of business machines. I do see that it would in general encourage sitting more than standing and walking or taking the stairs. I also wore heels even if they hurt. Dumb me. I paid for it later with foot surgery from that and other things. When I first thought about your topic I though perhaps the fat effect was because you did not walk to work as often but took more cabs or drove more often and tried to park closer to the office. I bet that is involved as well.
2 people like this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
28 Sep 12
I lived in heals when I was in my late teens and early 20's I had a different colored pair of pumps for every day of the week, of course it was the 80's and early 90's and everything was colorful back then. I could walk in heals as easily I could walk in any pair of shoes of course by the end of the day there was the pulsating pain, but I could go for hours without it bothering me and then next day it was back in the heals again, and then dancing for hours on end in them on the weekends. Now I can't stand wearing them at all. They go off at weddings the minute the dancing starts. Not that it is good to dance in just panty hose either but it is more comfortable than dancing in heals. I don't get to go dancing very often any more so when I go to weddings I will dance all night if I can find enough other people to dance too. Hubby can't keep up but lucky for me he has two single friends and between the 3 of them I can usually dance every song.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157721)
• United States
29 Sep 12
I was a lot thinner when I danced. Too bad that is not one of my regular activities, because it was wonderful workout.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71673)
• United States
28 Sep 12
When I read the title I thought what the heck lol but then after a second I came to the conclusion that if heels hurt people are less likely to walk then if there feet are comfortable. So then I read your discussions and see that was the point and I was right on. I have to say some heels really hurt to walk in and if I had to wear them every day I would be walking as little as possible.
2 people like this
@lologirl2021 (5542)
• United States
28 Sep 12
I dont think this is for everyone. I say this because when i get home after wearing high heels i feel like my legs hurt and when i wear my flats i dont hurt as much. I also feel i still walk around the same and still do the same thing at work. I get up and down from my desk alot and need to get files and look up stuff and file stuff back away and get files off others people desks to do my job and im back and fourth so much at work so i feel i still walk the same amount or maybe even more when im in heels so not sure if thats true for every one out there.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
28 Sep 12
There was a time when I think I did to, but I do remember on those casual Fridays how I just felt I got so much more done. But I do know what you mean when I wore heals all the time my calves were muscular. But I was younger then and did work out more at the time. Of course muscle does burn more calories so I think there are pluses to both wearing heals and not wearing heals.
1 person likes this
@Pegasus72 (1898)
•
28 Sep 12
I give a lot of credit to those women who can wear those heels all day. I couldn't do it. My back would be killing me. I like to be more casual, deck shoes, sneakers, or loafers, which reminds me I need a new pair of deck shoes. Oh by the way every girl I have seen that wears heels is thin so I don't know if I can agree with this.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157721)
• United States
28 Sep 12
No, I have seen lots of people who are larger wear heels as well. I think there is this fashion myth that it makes your legs look longer and so it is slimming.Makes me think of the stepsisters and Cinderella. I do not remember the last time I wore heels of any kind, though.
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
29 Sep 12
That makes absolutely perfect sense. I am mobility-challenged just because of the way my feet are shaped. I would imagine that high-heels would do the exact same thing, but in a different way, because they affect the feet. Bottom line is that the shoes would cause someone to walk with difficulty. Great point! Thanks.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
1 Oct 12
Yes it makes perfect sense, think of how your feet get so sore in high heels you just want to kick them off and you can't do that in an office or church or whatever, so you will be walking less. I could never understand how a woman could go grocery shopping in high heels.
@clocks123 (1225)
• United States
29 Sep 12
yes, there could be some truth to this as high heels are hard to walk around with. the other problem is in the long run it can ruin your feet as you are arched in one position all the time. give me a flat or very small heel and i am happy.
@Danzylop (1120)
• Philippines
29 Sep 12
Makes sense! haha. I thought It was something ridiculous. The explanation is logical though it can;t actually make women fat. They may retain more calories in the body but the effect is so minimal. Diet and other physical activities are stronger factors.
@prashu228 (37525)
• India
28 Sep 12
i don't know about this, but my legs start paining at ankles and at thighs if i wear high heels, so i stopped it. For the first time i heard that high heels make us fat. can you give me the link?
2 people like this
@Jazzybel (13)
• United States
30 Sep 12
I never thought of it that way but it makes sense.I read that Sarah Jessica Parker has some knee problems which I believe she attributed to heels. I love the way I look in heels but I agree that I move much slower and I'm not as "active" and fast when I walk around. I thought they were good for your calves though, I could be wrong. Interesting topic ladym33!
