## 1 Introduction  
Foot health is crucial for overall well-being, as it directly impacts mobility, balance, and the ability to perform daily activities [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Poor foot health can lead to pain, disability, and a decreased quality of life. Footwear plays a fundamental role in preventing these issues, as well as in enhancing physical activity and managing existing conditions, especially in specific populations like the elderly, athletes, and individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes. For example, improper shoe fit in diabetic patients can lead to serious complications like foot ulcers. Therefore, the selection of appropriate footwear should not be limited to aesthetic considerations but should address the specific needs of each individual.  
Recent studies have explored various aspects of shoe fit, such as size, width, and customization, and their impact on different demographic groups, including elderly women, individuals with gout, children and adolescents with Down syndrome, and young athletes [2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. These studies aimed to fully examine the effects of footwear on key parameters like pain, disability, physical activity, ulcer prevention, gait, and posture [7, 12, 13]. Additionally, research shows that shoe fit can influence postural control--the body's ability to maintain balance and stability while standing or moving--and proprioception, which is the body's sense of its position and movement in space [14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22]. These aspects are essential for maintaining foot health and overall physical function [23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31].  
In this review, we adopted a scoping review methodology, which is a type of research synthesis that maps the existing literature on a specific topic, identifies key concepts, theories, sources of evidence, and highlights research gaps. This approach is particularly useful when the evidence is diverse and dispersed, as it allows for a broad and inclusive exploration without the restrictive criteria of a systematic review. We selected this methodology to thoroughly explore the impact of shoe fit across diverse populations and conditions, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the topic. The guidelines for this scoping review were based on the frameworks provided by [PERSON] et al. (2021) [32] and [PERSON] et al. (2020) [33], ensuring a rigorous and transparent process.  
To provide a more holistic overview, the review also integrated recent studies focusing on athletes and individuals with specific medical conditions like diabetes, where improper shoe fit can have severe consequences. Furthermore, we included research on the biomechanical impact of shoe fit, examining how it influences gait and posture, and consequently, foot health and overall well-being [34; 35]. Different types of footwear, such as high heels, flats, and athletic shoes, were also considered, given their varying effects on foot health. Additionally, emerging technologies, such as machine learning applications in shoe design and foot health prediction, were explored to highlight future directions for personalized footwear solutions.  
The objective of this review was to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations for footwear selection that cater to the diverse needs of individuals while identifying areas for future research to advance the understanding of how footwear affects health [6; 36; 37; 38; 39].