This leads to economic problems as well. Another study by the Orthopedic Hospital at the University of Southern California shows a direct link between injuries suffered by older people from falls and the kinds of shoes they were wearing at the time of their fall. The study concludes that many falls result from shoes with slippery soles or from ill-fitting shoes. Good shoes should fit comfortably and properly from the moment one ties them to one's feet. Always purchase shoes for fit, not because of any preconceived size.
Shoe size increases as one gets older and even more as one gains weight.
The size shoe one wore as a young adult is probably too small for one as a mid-lifer. Incidentally, despite standardization, not all manufacturers produce sizes identical to other manufacturers. Despite all that our culture suggests to the contrary, shoes are unlikely to transform one's personality or self-image. The modern emphasis on running and power walking has raised our consciousness about our footwear. The famous Birkenstock company produces upwards of 300 styles of shoe, and running experts emphasize that not all feet are created equal.