Weight and mode of carrying schoolbags at elementary school: effect of the school grades and sex

ABSTRACT Schoolbag weight and mode of carrying it can contribute to postural deviations and back pain. Therefore, our objective was to determine and compare, among the school grades and between sexes, the schoolbag weight relative to body weight and the mode of carrying it of Elementary School students, who leave their books on bookcases at the school. A total of 191 students participated in the study. Schoolbag weight and students body weight were determined with a scale, and the mode of carrying the schoolbags was evaluated by means of photographs. We observed that 47.7% of the students carried a weight above the limit established (10% of the student's body weight), and the first grade students carried less weight than the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade students; however, no difference was observed between sexes. We observed the prevalence of using double-strap backpack. However, despite the school had a strategy to reduce the schoolbag weight, almost half of the school children carried a weight of more than 10% of body weight. Thus, other measures to raise awareness of those involved are necessary.