A Comparative Study of Schoolbag Weight, Body Mass, and Body Mass Index among Primary School Girls in Selected Schools in Mosul City

Abstract

The limited number of local studies examining differences in schoolbag weight and its ratio to body mass according to grade level and body mass index among primary school girls in Mosul City represents an important research gap. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify differences in schoolbag weight and the schoolbag-to-body-mass ratio among girls in the first, second, and third grades, and to examine differences in this ratio according to body mass index categories, grade level, and their interaction. A descriptive research design was employed because of its suitability to the nature of the research problem. The study population consisted of female pupils enrolled in primary schools in Mosul City, from whom a purposive sample of 380 girls in the first three grades was selected. Body mass index, body mass, and schoolbag weight were measured, and the schoolbag-to-body-mass ratio was calculated and evaluated against the recommended limit. The results showed that (88.4%) of the participants carried schoolbags exceeding the recommended percentage across the three grade levels. Statistically significant differences were also found in the schoolbag-to-body-mass ratio among the grades. In addition, this ratio differed significantly according to body mass index category and grade level, with a statistically significant interaction between the two factors. The study recommends regular monitoring of schoolbag weight among primary school pupils, while taking body mass and body mass index into consideration when assessing the appropriateness of schoolbag loads.