Skip to main content Text Only version of this page
BBC
Home
TV
Radio
Talk
Where I Live
A-Z Index
Games
Games
Chat
Chat
Vote
Vote
Win
Win
Quiz
Quiz
Club
Club
 Homepage
 UK
 World
 Sport
 Music
 TV/Film
 Animals
 Sci/Tech
 Weather
 Pictures
 Find Out
 The Team

Contact Us
Help
Teachers





  Heavy schoolbags 'can damage your health'
Updated 19 December 2002, 11.51

Do you sometimes feel your schoolbag is weighing you down?

Well, the chances are you're right.

Many kids are risking their long-term health by carrying heavy books and kit to and from the classroom, according to some research in the US.

Secret contents

schoolbags
Most parents never look inside their kids' bags
A total of 188 out of 745 children surveyed said they normally carried bags weighing an average of five kilos (11lb 1oz) - the equivalent of 14% of their body weight.

And the people who carried out the survey are calling on schools to make pupils keep their bags in lockers and give them more time to move from one lesson to the next.

The research warns that heavy loads increas the risk of back injury and permanent changes to the way you normally stand.

On the plus side, fewer than 1% of the parents surveyed had ever examined the contents of their kids' schoolbags!



Watch/ListenBORDER=0
Hear StoryHear Story
BORDER=0

More InfoBORDER=0
ChatE-mail: What's lurking in your schoolbag?
ChatChat about crazes
VoteWhat school day do you hate most?
VoteVote: do u follow latest trends?

BORDER=0

Past StoriesBORDER=0
Back to school: lunchboxes out, coolbags in
My school won't get recycling bins
New carrier bags disappear into thin air

BORDER=0


 


E-mail this page to a friend



Full UK Section
Also in UK now:
Work to clear crash track starts
Book features Madonna's daughter
Thousands take part in fox hunts
Comments
What's lurking in your schoolbag?
opening quoteMy bag weighs over 7kg!!!!closing quote
Luke, 13, Ashford
  More Comments
Scotland Northern Ireland Northern England Wales South West England Sout East England Midlands
Your Reports
Click on an area to read stories from your region
World Reports
Diaries from a young model, actor, footballer and tennis player All of our talented kids' diaries in one place
Tony Hawks PS2 games Skate your way to Tony Hawks PS2 games!
Pix: Some of those honoured by Queen
© BBC Back to top^^
Homepage | UK | World | Sport | Music | TV/Film | Animals | Sci/Tech | Weather
Pictures | Find Out | The Team | Games | Chat | Vote | Win | Quiz | Club