Stephanie Kraus Big Backpacks Equal Big Problems Essay

Just watching students in the halls at the beginning of the year will tell you that backpacks are exhaustingly heavy. As Stephanie Kraus’ article “Big Backpacks Equal Big Problems” shows, there is real proof that this is damaging to our bodies. When we carry the excessively heavy bags, it puts pressure on the spine. The spine is important in supporting our bodies, and putting that weight on it can ruin posture, interfere with normal growth patterns, and even cause long term back problems. Over the years backpacks have been getting increasingly heavy, as we struggle to cram the entire contents of our locker into our bags before dismissal. Experts are saying that your bag should be “between 10-20% of your own weight.”