Drawing on the literature regarding epidemiological studies (both longitudinal and cross-sectional) conducted in Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, and France on populations of children and adolescents, the authors unexpectedly found a prevalence of severe back pain among 11- to 17-year-olds. The analysis reveals numerous and varied risk factors for these conditions, which present with painful symptoms leading to medical care: age, gender, family history, psychosocial factors, heredity, anthropometric parameters, postural disorders (kyphosis, lordosis), physical activity and especially competitive sports, academic performance, smoking, and sitting posture, particularly while watching television.