Backpacks and school children's obesity: challenges for public health and ergonomics

This descriptive study of cross sectional has focused on analyzing the school material weight transported by students associated with children and adolescents overweight in primary and secondary schools. Participants 339 students of both genders, aged 10-19 years. 243 students carrying and average load of 12.65% of his body weight. 53 students were overweight with a BMI of 20,00 to 35,6. 20 overweight students carrying backpacks more than 10% of his body weight. 21% of the students rated complained of back and shoulder pain. This data is very important in the preventive aspects for the individuals studied, as well as others with the same anthropometric characteristics and the same demand.

A influência da carga imposta pela mochila escolar em alunos do ensino fundamental e médio: uma contribuição para estudos ergonômicos

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the load carried by students in primary and secondary schools, state Vespasian /MG, and quantify the percentage established between backpack weight and body mass of these young people carry every day. The study included 916 students of both genders. Ages ranged from 10-19 years. 541 students (59.06%) carried the load backpack ranging from 10.02 to 33.43% of his body mass. Students with younger age, female students and those who opted for the backpack model designed dorsal attachment tended to carry a load higher than 10% of his body weight. 224 (24.45%) students complain of back pain and shoulder. It was concluded that the cargo is inadequate from the point of view of biomechanics and ergonomics, especially for younger individuals and females, since they are in growth phase, and this exposes them to an overhead increased risk of spinal injuries, with consequent repercussions in adulthood.