This is how HOMEWORK could be bad for your kids’ health – according to scientists
One in four girls carry 20 per cent of their body weight in their school rucksack, well above recommended levels, scientists found
IT'S a pain for parents and kids alike, but now experts warn homework could be harming your child's health.
Lugging heavy text books back and forth every day in a rucksack places huge stress on a child's spine, Spanish scientists have warned.
They found one in four girls carry more than 20 per cent of their body weight in their school bags - way above recommended levels.
Such was their concern they suggest parents swap their kids' backpack for a wheelie bag.
They found the wheelie option is better for a child's gait and does less damage to their backs - even when they are the same weight.
Eva Orantes, lead author of the study carried out at the University of Granada, said: "We found some alarming data.
"Twenty-three per cent of the girls are carrying in their backpack or trolley a load above 20 per cent of their body weight, well above what is recommended."
And, she warned almost half of school kids are carrying bags that are above recommended weight levels on a daily basis.
They examined 78 school kids - 43 girls and 35 boys between six and 12 - who went to public schools in Granada.
They tested the kids' percentage body fat and muscle mass, as well as the weight of their school bag to find out the relationship with the child's body weight.
They placed several markers on each kid, at various point on the body, which were captured through a 3D motion test.
It used nine infrared cameras and a complex computer software, allowing the researchers to determine the kids' posture.
They altered the weight of the kids' bags, to loads of 10, 15 and 20 per cent of their body weight.
The kids taking part were also asked a series of questions about their school bag.
In light of the outcome of our work, we can say that pulling a trolley is more beneficial to them than using a backpack with the same weight
Eva Orantes
The results showed 97 per cent thought their bag was almost always heavy, compared with 85 per cent of kids who use a wheelie bag.
Kids who use a rucksack were also more likely to feel tired when lugging it back and forth, and were also more likely to suffer back pain.
Eva Orantes added: "In light of the outcome of our work, we can say that pulling a trolley, provided it is within the load recommendation of between 10 and 15 per cent of the child's weight, is more beneficial to them than using a backpack with the same weight."
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