The weight and use of schoolbags in New Zealand secondary schools

The weight and use of schoolbags amongst 140 students (70 third form studen ts comprising 35 females and 35 males, and 70 sixth form students comprisin g 35 females and 35 males) from five New Zealand secondary schools was inve stigated. Third form students, who were smaller in stature and weight than sixth form students, were found to carry 13.2% of their body weight in scho olbags, while sixth form students carried 10.3% of their body weight. Third form students reported carrying their schoolbags for a longer period of ti me than sixth form students. Third form students also had less access to lo ckers to store their schoolbooks and supplies as only one of the five schoo ls investigated provided lockers for third form students, whereas four of t he five schools provided lockers for sixth form students. Most students use d backpacks to transport their supplies, and these were predominantly carri ed on two shoulders. Heavy schoolbags, long carriage durations and lack of access to lockers amongst third formers, could contribute to the production or maintenance of musculoskeletal symptoms. This study suggests that third form students may be at a higher risk of developing musculoskeletal sympto ms than sixth form students.