A recent study says, "Yes." There is an increased risk of low back pain with prolonged sitting in desks. This is especially true for desks that don't match the height and weight of students.

The problem is a rapid growth spurt during the preteen years. It makes seating children and teens difficult, since there's no way to predict when this will happen or who will be affected. With limited school funds, the schools often adopt a "one size fits all" approach. Unfortunately, this can become a problem of "one size fits none."