The state of your appetite is related to your shoe size
A recent health report from the Japanese medical community indicates that there is a significant correlation between appetite and shoe size. If you find your appetite is poor, it's best to check whether your shoes fit properly.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the feet are the root of the human body. The meridians concentrated in the feet directly influence the nerve responses of internal organs. When shoes are ill-fitting and cause discomfort, it can lead to a decreased appetite and affect gastrointestinal function.
Experts explain that appetite is based on conditioned reflexes. In addition to physiological factors, psychological factors can also influence the appetite through the autonomic nervous system's control of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, any physical or mental discomfort can alter appetite. The feet are composed of numerous bones, muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves, and house 66 acupuncture points across 6 meridians. Four of these meridians are related to the digestion, absorption, and intake of food, and there are multiple nerve reflex points connected to internal organs. Frequently wearing high heels, narrow shoes, or shoes with hard soles can, over time, cause calluses and pain in the soles of the feet. These sensations are transmitted via the nervous system, which can lead to agitation and a bad mood. This negative mood affects the excitability of the sympathetic nervous system, thereby inhibiting the secretion of digestive glands and resulting in a loss of appetite.
When the feet are in pain, it can also lead to an increase in the secretion of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the body, which affects gastrointestinal motility and significantly reduces appetite through the neurobiochemical mechanisms of eating. Furthermore, when shoes are tight, blood circulation in the feet becomes poor, which in turn stimulates the lateral hypothalamic region, the feeding center of the brain, causing a person to feel a decreased appetite or even anorexia. Therefore, it is recommended that people, especially children, avoid wearing shoes that are too small, too tight, or have excessively high heels, as this can hinder systemic blood circulation and metabolism and affect appetite.