How to Find a Handbag That Won't Hurt Your Back 1 of 10 Your weight and your fate Isis M. Medina's rule is that you should tote no more than 10 percent of your body weight—so a bag that's more than five pounds when empty is a bad start. If your load is excessive, your head and neck jut forward rather than staying over your shoulders, which can lead to headaches, neck tension, and back pain. Stress-free straps » From Shop Smart: Is Your Handbag Killing You? in the October 2007 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. Subscribe now!