Does schoolbag carriage equally affect obese/overweight and healthy-weight children?

Abstract

Discrepancies exist in backpack load recommendations for obese/overweight children, and the recommendations do not consider school trolleys. This study analysed obese/overweight and healthy-weight students’ perceived load and fatigue when carrying schoolbags and their gait kinematics and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) when carrying backpacks or pulling school trolleys with different loads. Twelve obese/overweight and 36 healthy-weight students were asked about their perceived load and fatigue in carrying their schoolbags to school. Then, a kinematic gait analysis was completed in students walking unloaded or transporting 10%, 15% or 20% of their bodyweight (BW) in a backpack or trolley. RPE was recorded after each condition.The average hip rotation and knee adduction angles differed between body mass index (BMI) groups. The healthy-weight group reported higher RPEs than the overweight/obese group when pulling a trolley with 10–15% BW.In conclusion, both BMI groups responded similarly to load and schoolbag type.