Coinciding with the beginning of the school year and the concern about the appearance of students, especially the young ones, as they carry their school bags overloaded with books and notebooks, Dr. Youssef Koleilat, an orthopedic consultant at Al-Seef Hospital, warned of the complications of the heavy weight of the school bag.
In a statement to a local Arabic daily, Koleilat stressed that “the weight of the school bag should not exceed 10 percent of the student’s weight, and unfortunately, we find that most students’ bags often weigh more than 17 percent of their weight,” explaining that “to find out what if your child’s school bag is too heavy for his/her shoulders, he should be seen while carrying it and if he/she has to lean forward to balance, it means the bag is heavy.”
He stressed that “if back pain persists and the child’s back is curved, a doctor should be visited,” explaining that “although some schools have lockers designated for each student, most students prefer to keep books in their possession, which increases the burdens on their backs.”
