FMCSA board wants to test some truckers for sleep apnea based on BMI
4/10/08

Quote:

The FMCSA’s Medical Review Board formally recommended this week that all drivers with a body mass index of 30 or greater be tested for sleep apnea. For example, if you are 5 feet 10 inches tall and weigh 210 pounds, you would be considered obese and would have to be tested. On Monday, April 7, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s advisory Medical Review Board finalized its Jan. 28 recommendation that CDL-holders be referred for medical testing for sleep apnea if their BMI rates were 30 or greater. Meeting minutes indicated that some board members felt the BMI issue warranted more investigation. BMI combines a person’s height and weight to set a score. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an adult’s BMI can be calculated by dividing the person’s weight in pounds by inches squared and multiplying that number by 703. A BMI number of 30 indicates obesity, according to the BMI system. A BMI calculator is available at www.cdc.gov. Sleep apnea occurs most often when throat muscles relax during sleep, momentarily preventing oxygen from traveling to one’s lungs, according to the Mayo Clinic. The medical review board carries no rulemaking power or authority, and transportation officials have not set any timetable for consideration of any regulation related to apnea, FMCSA spokesman Duane DeBruyne told Land Line. More at Landline>>>>

BMI is a ridiculous way to calculate if some one is too fat.


You can have average height guys that are built husky that will trip the damn thing as obese or at the least over weight when they are in shape.
I hate the darn BMI index.

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Isn't there a Dr. in Texas with a blue Pete that is a expert about all this bmi stuff? Seems like I read something about it in another forum??

I'm 5'11" 300+ Took a sleep apnea test at the VA and have no problem. I need to lose weight a lot of weight( I hold it well). When I was in the best shape of my life (marines & wrestling Champ) I weighed 220+lb. and wasn't obese or over weight ALTHOUGH THE BMI SAID I WAS. BMI IS A JOKE.

I am one of those guys that according to bmi are not obese 5'11" 200#, but last summer I did a sleep study and i have sleep apnea pretty bad. now i get to sleep with a mask strapped on my face at night. It actually helped but i still think the bmi scale is bull crap

Sleep apnea is a real problem for me. And according to my BMI it SHOULD be. However being overweight, (or as I like to call it FAT) is not the only thing that causes sleep apnea.

I've used a CPAP for about six years now, including some of the time when I was over the road. It really helped, but recently I've noticed those exhaustion symptoms rearing their ugly head again.

It is a clear and present danger for anyone who drives. I'm going to have to get tested again before I will even consider getting back into trucking.

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Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened. Anatole France

Got turned down at PRIME because they require a 38.5 BMI or less. I am a 40.6 right now, never been tested for sleep apnea but I'm not tired when I wake up either. My father suffered from it but he was 450+ most of his life. Recruiter told me if I drop 15-20 pounds I can get back on as long as they are still hiring new grads.

I weigh 290 and I am 5'11. Back in Dec 2005 I stated to lose weight after a loved one died. I was 396.lbs and By November 2006 I was 225.lbs. I could run one mile in 8:10 and two in 16:30 I never ran more than two because my right lung would hurt after the 1st mile.

I kept the weight off until December 2007. My house burned in Sept 07 (I inherited it in Sept 05 when my grandfather passed), my dad died dec 07, my mom died mar 08, had baby boy born june 08 (my 1st child therefore my parents never got to see a grandchild), Nov 08 my gradmother died. To top it off my insurance screwed me around until jul 08 on paying me for my house fire (they tried everything they could to get out of paying and had to pay by court order).

While all that wonderful luck was occurring I went from 225.lbs to 299. Since March 31st 09 I have went down from 299 to 291. I told the Prime recruiter I would be at the 275 or lower by the end of April.

Even though I gained 70 pounds I can run 1 mile in 9 minutes. I am riding a moutain bike 16 miles everyday plus walking 4 miles in less than an hour.

BMI is total ########. Take my case, I was a 41.7 BMI on March 31st 2009, Starting that day I ran 1 mile in 9 minutes, walked the other 3.

April 1st I rode my bike 16 miles in 1 1/2 hours, walked 4 miles.

April 2nd I rode my bike 16 miles in 1 1/2 hours, walked 4 miles.

April 3rd I ran 1 mile and walked 3.

Today I will I ride my bike 16 miles in 1 1/2 hours, walk 4 miles.

But according to BMI I am obese. I know people the are in the 20's on the BMI scale that couldn't keep pace with my 290 pound fat ###.I think BMI should be either dropped of complimented with a scoring system that is based on exercises.

Sleep apnea testing is being pushed by doctors and medical equipment suppliers that will profit from it. Maybe some of our politicians should be tested for sleep apnea so they can state awake when congress is in session . Some pretty high BMI numbers there .

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2 Timothy 4:3,4–”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

I'm sure you are right about that Rick. But I can tell you from first hand experience, that if you really do need it, it is a God send!

OTOH, they have all of these add ons now, that I really have to wonder about. As an example, I've got a buddy who just got one. Per his doctor, his has oxygen added with it.

Now my question is, if he needs oxygen at night, then why the heck doesn't he need it in the day time when he is (very) active! There probably is a reason for this, I just don't quite get it.


This is just another one of these "one size fits all" crocks of crap that we run into every time we turn around. OBTW, after reading your post, I'm exhausted! I need a nap.

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Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened. Anatole France

That is BS. Dr. is on me all the time saying I'm Obese. "####### doc" When I went through the State Police Academy I was 6'1, 240 lbs, running over 5 miles a day and do physical training all day. I played college baseball at a big time Division I school my playing weight at 18 years old was 220. I was wearing a 32 " waist but my upper body and thighs were bulked. That BMI is B.S. My ideal weight is 185 lbs, my a_s-s.