Bulky Backpacks Weigh Kids Down

Posted on July 28, 2009 in Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine, Parenting, Recent Studies

As the summer months draw to a close, kids will ready themselves once again to be weighed down by schoolwork. Literally, a new survey from Consumer Reports suggests: they found that 6th graders in the study were carrying backpacks weighting 18.4 pounds on average, although some backpacks were as heavy as 30 pounds.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that your child’s backpack weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of his weight. Schlepping around a heavier load can have serious health implications, including lower-back pain. Girls and shorter children are particularly susceptible to experience back pain from backpacks, according to Dr. Orly Avitzur, medical adviser to Consumer Reports.

Choosing the right backpack can go a long way towards preventing injury. The AAP’s guidelines for choosing a backpack suggest that wide, padded shoulder straps and a waist strap can help distribute weight evenly. A rolling backpack is another solution, although it still must be carried up stairs. For students who refuse to sacrifice fashion for function, requesting to keep another set of textbooks for home use may cut down on toting time.