Recently we’ve talked about the push for healthier students in the form of better school meals. But this isn’t the only challenge to children’s health. Increasingly paediatricians are warning about what many parents already suspect: the weight of students’ backpacks could put them at risk for serious health problems.
This problem is particularly true here in Hong Kong, according to the SCMP. Scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that leaves patients unable to straighten up properly, affects 4 out of every 1,000 students in Hong Kong. In extreme cases, the condition can mean students have to wear back braces. It can even lead to heart and lung problems.
The fix to students’ backpack woes has two steps: first, reduce the weight of the pack. A backpack should weigh no more than 15% as much as the child carrying it. Second, make sure it is being carried correctly. Students may prefer to sling their bags over just one shoulder, but this makes them unbalanced and puts a lot of strain on their lower backs. For more information on proper carrying of backpacks, and tips on picking the right one for your student, check out this guide from the Harvard Medical School.
One solution to the weight issue that some Hong Kong schools are already trying is to switch to e-books. However, this isn’t always practical either, since the books, along with a device to read them, can be more expensive than the paper versions.
If you are a student, what have you done to reduce the strain on your shoulders? Is it practical to try to lighten your load, or are the requirements of school life too heavy to allow any relief?
