Improperly-fitting shoes can cause bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, and other disabling foot problems that are a huge public health risk in the U.S.

One in six persons, or 43.1 million people in the U.S., have foot problems. Thirty-six percent regard their foot problems as serious enough to warrant medical attention.

The cost of foot surgery to correct foot problems from tight-fitting shoes is $2 billion a year. If time off from work for the surgery and recovery is included, the cost is $3.5 billion.

A study conducted by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society found that:

• Nine out of 10 women are wearing shoes that are too small for their feet.
  
• Eight out of 10 women say their shoes are painful.
  
• More than 7 out of 10 women have developed a bunion, hammertoe, or other painful foot deformity.
  
• Women are nine times more likely to develop a foot problem due to improperly fitting shoes than are men.
  
• Nine out of 10 women's foot deformities can be attributed to tight shoes.

New Balance is the only athletic shoe company to offer our complete line in a variety of widths -- ranging from AA to EEEE.