Weight of School Backpacks and its Impacts on Students’ Health: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the weight of school backpacks in relation to student’s body weight. A total of 250 semi-urban students from one of the schools in Thimphu participated in this study. A cross-sectional non-experimental survey was conducted. The weight of the school backpacks and weight of the students were measured. The findings from the study, among others, revealed that more than half of the students (n=127, 50.8%) from the school carried backpacks more than the internationally recommended weight of 10% of their body weight. It is recommended that the school authorities and the Ministry of Health work collaboratively to address its implications and future health challenges of children carrying excess weight in their backpacks.