Heavy backpacks have become a growing concern for children aged 6 to 16, leading to a rise in back pain cases. Experts are warning that carrying excess weight in improperly worn backpacks can affect children's spine health and may cause mobility issues later in life.According to Dr Sameer Ruparel, Orthopedic and Spine Surgeon at Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, back pain is no longer just an issue for adults, it's becoming increasingly common in school-aged children. "Heavy backpacks put immense pressure on a child’s spine and musculoskeletal system. This can lead to poor posture, muscle strain, and even debilitating back pain," he said.Dr Ruparel added that 8 in 10 children could experience back pain due to their school bags, with symptoms such as tingling, numbness, or even red marks on their shoulders.What Is The Ideal Weight Of A Backpack?Experts recommend that a child's backpack should not exceed 15% of their body weight.Dr Ruparel provided specific guidelines for bag weight, noting that children in classes 1-2 should ideally carry no more than 1 kg, while children in higher grades should have appropriately scaled weights: around 5 kg for students in classes 9-10.He also stressed the importance of wearing both straps of the backpack to distribute weight evenly and avoid long-term spine damage. "If the bag hangs below the waist, it’s too heavy," he cautioned.In 2018, the Delhi government capped the weight of school bags of children from classes I to X. The weight of schoolbags for students of classes I and II should not exceed 1.5 kg, while those of students of class III to V should weigh between 2 kg to 3 kg.Schoolbags of students of classes VI and VII should not be more than 4 kg, while the weight of schoolbags of classes VIII and IX students should not be above 4.5 kg. The schoolbag of a class X student should not weigh above 5 kg.