Students weigh backpacks to learn impact of heavy loads

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — CFCC students weighed in on more than just class to promote healthy habits in downtown Wilmington today, just in time for National Backpack Day.

Occupational therapy assisting students set up shop with a bookbag weigh-in station, so kids and adults can check out how much they are actually lugging around on their shoulders each day.

Studies show that carrying more than 10 percent of your own body weight on your shoulders and back can lead to serious health effects. Students there today agree that too much stuff in your backpack can mean more than just loads of homework.

“We came out to weigh our bookbags to see if it’s at a healthy weight for us, so that we won’t get any back injuries,” said 4th grader Emily Failla. “And if we do then that would probably hurt our legs and our backs, and we don’t want that to happen.”

Experts say lightening the load can improve health in a big way.