America is filled with so many obese people that fat people think they are normal. BMI is very accurate. Never compare your neck size to a professional athlete because you are not a professional athlete. Chances are you are fat and need to loose some weight, its not a big deal.

Then why are there countless scientific and medical journals disputing BMI's accuracy and use in diagnostic medicine?

Fat and obese people hate a number that proves they are fat or obese. Its like a speed limit that can not be argued against. This drives fat and obese people insane so they scour the internet for any study that might prove that they are not overweight. Just loose some weight, its not a big deal.

This isn't just about BMI. The average adult American male has ~16" collar so I assume you're way under that.

Here is some raw data to back it up:

Sizing Up America - Signs of Expansion From Head to Toe - NYTimes.com

MEN

Black 18 to 25 (years old) CHEST: 41'' WAIST: 34'' HIPS: 41'' COLLAR: 16''

36 to 45 CHEST: 43 WAIST: 37 HIPS: 42 COLLAR: 17 56 to 65 CHEST: 43 WAIST: 39 HIPS: 42 COLLAR: 17

MEN

White 18 to 25 CHEST: 41 WAIST: 35 HIPS: 41 COLLAR: 16

36 to 45 CHEST: 44 WAIST: 38 HIPS: 42 COLLAR: 16

56 to 65 CHEST: 44 WAIST: 40 HIPS: 42 COLLAR: 17

MEN

Hispanic 18 to 25 CHEST: 41 WAIST: 35 HIPS: 40 COLLAR: 16

36 to 45 CHEST: 44 WAIST: 38 HIPS: 44 COLLAR: 15

MEN

Other 18 to 25 CHEST: 41 WAIST: 34 HIPS: 40 COLLAR: 16

36 to 45 CHEST: 42 WAIST: 37 HIPS: 41 COLLAR: 16

56 to 65 CHEST: 43 WAIST: 38 HIPS: 41 COLLAR: 16

(Source by SizeUSA)(pg. A18)

I like how people think as long as their BMI is okay this doesn't effect them.

So true,

I have a BMI of 23, 14.5" collar, run every day, but I have high BP that has been in every generation of my family, it is controlled with meds. However, since I have high BP I have a risk factor for OSA. It is one of many factors, but depending on the Dr, I could get flagged.

However. After looking at Spec sheet B, Which is what you get if you are determined to be "At risk" when at the AME, a sleep study isn't automatically needed:

You first need an OSA assessment by an AME/Personal Doc/sleep medicine specialist.

IF the assessment determines you need a sleep study, then you need to have one. If the doc determines you DON't need a sleep study, you just submit the evaluation to the FAA along with any studies done.

IT's a hassle but not an automatically huge hassle.

Exactly.

The issue is that the FAA is deciding the fate of many people's careers my a number developed by a statistician almost 200 years ago to compare populations and was never intended for diagnostic use. Most importantly, its validity has been debunked by many reputable scientific and medical sources.

I could just say my BMI says I'm healthy, so this doesn't affect me. But if this is deemed acceptable, then what arbitrary medical restrictions not based in scientific facts will the FAA come up with next? Where does it stop? I certainly don't want to lose my medical or have pay $5000+ in uneeded tests to keep it.

And who knows what ridiculous (and expensive) psych evaluations they might be trying to cook up in response to the German Wings incident...

I can't see an AME ordering a sleep a sleep study because he believes one may have OSA. For insurance to cover it, one must have a reason and not because the FAA says so. I agree no regional FO or in fact any regional pilots could afford to just shell out $7K. I have a BMI of 31 and a neck size of 17 and have moderate to severe OSA. What they're doing is attacking and profiling older pilots who are of size.

Somebody's getting kickbacks, follow the money.