Suri Cruise's high heels catch health experts' attention | India Gazette

Suri Cruise's high heels catch health experts' attention

India Gazette (ANI) Saturday 21st November, 2009

Washington, November 21 : Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have come under fire from health experts after snaps of their 3-year-old daughter Suri wearing high-heels surfaced.

One pic shows the kid wearing a pair of open toe heels about an inch high, while clutching a cup from Starbucks.

Experts are of the opinion that wearing heels at a small age can be damaging to the child's physical growth.

"A common side effect of adults wearing heels too often is the tightening or shortening of the Achilles tendon," Fox News quoted New York podiatrist Dr. Oliver Zong, as saying.

He added: "At Suri's age, children are growing quickly, and you want everything growing at the same rate. If the tendon is not growing at the same rate as everything else, it could become a problem.

"If a parent allows their child to wear the heels in moderation, that's one thing, but who's to say what is moderate for a three year old child.

"With an adult, [high] heels that don't fit properly can lead to hammer toes or bunions, but an adult's growth plate is closed. With a child that young, her growth plate is still open, so a pair of heels that is too tight could damage the growing bones of her feet.

"A child's proper growth could face serious problems if a growth plate is crushed."