Heavy bags are a "significant" issue for teenagers, with one-third of them saying they are too heavy for them to walk or bike to school, new research shows.
BEATS Research from the University of Otago found the average school bag weight of more than 1500 teenagers was 5.2kg, with 10 percent carrying an additional bag with an average weight of 2kg.
The research, which was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, also found girls, underweight teens, and those living in large urban areas tend to have heavier bags relative to their body weight.
Associate Professor and Research Affiliate of the Centre for Sustainability Sandra Mandic says activity levels among Kiwi teens is low and the ability to walk or bike to school could help.
"Excessive school bag weight is a significant issue for New Zealand adolescents. More than 50 percent of participants experience body pain and/or fatigue as a result of carrying their school bag and one-third of them think their school bag is too heavy for walking or cycling to school," Mandic says.
"Interestingly, physically active adolescents are less likely to report their school bag being too heavy for walking or cycling to school."
Mandic says strategies aimed at reducing bag weight should be considered as well as overall efforts to encourage teens to walk or bike to school. One approach would be reducing the amount of books youngsters have to carry on a daily basis, she says.
"It would also help looking at what else they really need to bring to school daily and if some of it, such as some sports gear, could be stored at school."
The research also poured cold water on a common theory that phones and laptops reduce school bag weight. It found teens who carry electronic devices have heavier bags on average.
"More than 85 percent of adolescents carried books to school and 60 percent carried an electronic device," Mandic said. "Adolescents who brought their electronic device to school also had heavier school bags and more frequently reported fatigue and/or pain symptoms from carrying their school bag throughout the day."
Recommendations for school bag weight limits range from 5 to 20 percent of a child's body weight.
