Why do men get bunions?
posted: Feb. 20, 2014.
A bunion is a bony protuberance near the base of the big toe on the inside part of the foot. This causes the big toe to start ‘migrating’ its position in the direction towards the smaller toes. Bunions can be quite painful and make it hard to find shoes that fit properly.
It’s common knowledge that women get bunions because they wear shoes that are too tight and the heel is too high. But what about men?
Harvard researchers analyzed data of 214 men from the 600 MOBILIZE Boston Study to see what type of reasons are behind bunions, called hallux valgus. They found that about 25% of the men in the study developed bunions and these men usually had a body mass index of 25 to just under 30.
Here’s a quick chart to give you an idea of the weight requirement linked with bunions:
| Height | Weight Greater Than or Equal To |
| 5'7" | 160 lbs |
| 5'8" | 165 lbs |
| 5'9" | 170 lbs |
| 5'10" | 175 lbs |
| 5'11" | 180 lbs |
| 6'0" | 185 lbs |
Researchers also found that men with flat feet were more likely to have bunions compared to those without flat feet.
If you have bunions, please call our Toronto podiatry office at (416) 486-9917 to find how how we can help you with minimally invasive bunion surgery.