Zahra Zeynali, emphasizing the importance of standard backpacks, warned that the use of nonstandard and heavy backpacks carries irreparable consequences such as spinal misalignment, chronic back pain, and respiratory disorders among students.

According to Webda News Agency, Zahra Zeynali, the Specialist in Charge of Adolescents, Youth and Schools Affairs at the Zanjan County Health Center, spoke on the occasion of the start of the new academic year and the reopening of schools in an interview with the program “Sib-e Salamat” on Radio Zanjan. She stated that a backpack is not merely a tool for carrying materials but plays a significant role in students’ physical health. Unfortunately, she noted, many families ignore the standards for a proper backpack, which poses a serious threat to the health of the next generation.

Referring to the short‑term and long‑term effects of inappropriate backpacks, she explained: neck, back, and shoulder pains are short‑term outcomes, but over time they can lead to postural abnormalities such as scoliosis (spinal curvature), pronounced lumbar lordosis, kyphosis, and even reduced lung capacity.

Zeynali enumerated the features of a standard backpack as follows:

• Lightweight: the backpack itself should weigh very little.
• Wide, soft shoulder straps: shoulder straps should be wide and padded to distribute pressure.
• Equipped with a chest strap and a waist strap: these help distribute weight evenly across the body.
• Compartments: having multiple sections to distribute items proportionately.
• Reflective strips: to enhance safety for students during dusk and night commutes.

This health expert stressed: the loaded weight of the backpack must not exceed 10 percent of the student’s body weight. For example, for a student weighing 30 kilograms, the maximum backpack weight should be 3 kilograms.

She further advised families: parents should check the contents of the backpack every night and remove nonessential items such as toys, extra books, and bulky snacks. Using lightweight school supplies and thin‑bound notebooks also helps reduce weight.

In conclusion, Zeynali stated that the health of students is a national asset; an informed choice of a standard backpack is an investment in physical health and the future of our children. Let us, through proper public education, prevent many skeletal abnormalities in adulthood.

News group: Webda News, Health Networks, Special News, Scientific News, Zanjan County Health Center Article

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