Shoes, on the other hand (foot) have been a problem as I've gone up just over 1/2 size in the last few years.

Maybe all the fat is running out of my head and into my feet
Well, I know Alan specifically excluded shoes from the discussion, but since you brought it up, I've heard that it's normal for adults to need to step up in shoe size as they age. It has to do with the bones of the foot spreading out over adulthood, from years of standing on them. The feet actually get a tad longer and wider with age.