BMI 30+
 

Guys, before i start just want to point out that I'm not a porker but I do have a BMI over 30, from the age of about 14 I have played a very high level of Rugby in the UK up to about 5 years ago and at my very fittest I was 15st 7Ilbs which for a rugby player standing at 5''8' is pretty standard, guys are weighing in at a lot more these days!!

I have to be honest and say that I would seriously struggle to make a BMI of 30 I've always been very heavily built I have a 36'' waist and a 48'' chest at the moment but intend to lose a couple of inches and drop down to about 15 stone but that will take me several months of hard work and serious discipline.

Do EK take build into account at all, I had the same problem when I went through Army Selection but once they saw me I was signed off fit!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, oh and no oink oink jokes..

Cheers

MN

Mate,

I dont work for Emirates, so sorry, i can't answer your question.

BUT, I would love to have a chest 12 inches bigger than my gut. My understanding is that BMI is only a guide and that stomach size is more of an indicator of late life health problems. I believe Emirates want you to have a waist of 40 inched or less.

Anyway, good luck.

I don't work for EK .
One limitation of the BMI is that it doesn't take Athletic bodies in account (so i have read) muscles make you weight more etc, if you don't have alot of body fat i think you will be alright, and i don't think you will be rejected based on BMI , as long as you can pass the medical!!

I am not fat, just too short for the weight!!!:D

On a recent Etihad flight (MAN-AUH), I remember one of the cabin crew was huge !!. An arabian guy (I think), over 6', very well built and fit, strode up and down the isle with an air of authority, seemingly missing nothing or nobody (i.e you knew he was there). Pleasant guy though when serving meals, especially with the kids, sort of guy you need "on your side" should an "incident" occur !!

I remember saying to the wife - "He's the bouncer" - And for all I know, he probably was !!!!!.

Lid

People in this part of the world can't see that not only is 1+1=2 but so is 6-4.

They treat BMI as a guide only, and if it's apparent you're doing some weight training or even just keeping pretty fit they'll give you a pass.

BMI has been utterly discredited as a method of gauging a person's fitness for the last 20+ years, it's ludicrous that they even mention it.

The doctors issue a medical certificate based on the GCAA requirements for a healthy pilot. PASS or FAIL. Simple as that.

What people don't seem to understand is that the company then insists the doctor passes on specific information on your health to the chief pilots. IE: your BMI.

The CPs then decide on what action to take regarding your health, which "may include dismissal".

Unfair? Unethical? Illegal? Welcome to the Middle East. And the company doctors are complicit in this sham.

Monkeynutz...............exactly the same situation for me i.e tall (6'4") second row man and BMI at 29. When I got my current job ( UK based ) the company doc wanted to see me after he had assesed my medical info. Upon disrobing in his office he muttered something along the lines of "Ah, that exlains that" and did a quick poke n prod and signed me off as ok to start.

My current AME simply wrote something about athletic/muscular build on my notes and I've never had any problems or questions about my BMI

I cant 100% confirm this but I think that the recruitment "screening team" have been told not to even process your application states a BMI over 30...Its crazy!!

Monkeynutz,

They are pretty strict about BMI but they aren't that stupid, they can see when someone is more muscle than fat.

I will say one thing though; this 100 hour a month long-haul business at EK leaves you sat in your seat for hours on end with no physical exertion, but leaves you too mentally tired to motivate yourself for exercise on your days off...

It is very easy to suddenly find yourself ballooning a couple of stone if you've a healthy appetite bearing in mind no one walks anywhere in Dubai especially in the summer.

If you've played rugby at a high-level there's plenty of opportunities to keep in trim down in Dubai, even if it's only training (not sure how EK would view you getting an injury and missing work if you played full contact).

If you're a Union man there's EKs team 'the muppets' as well as Dubai Exiles which may suit your standard. And if you really want to get put through your paces the UAE Falcons Rugby league team trains down at Zabeel Park a couple of times a week, think they've got some guys who've played at a pretty high level in Oz.:ouch:

There's always nice gyms at the hotels too.

MGC

Guys,

Just want to say a massive thank you for all the feedback and general support. Writing this on my iPhone which takes forever so going to keep this one short. I too have heard that if your BMI is over 30 on the application form you automatically get rejected, can anyone offer guidance on this issue.

As for playing rugby out there, would be very interested but would always be concerned about injury, as I have already had a detached shoulder tendon. But you never know, enjoy the social side to it though hence the extra couple of inches!!!

Again thanks for all the positive replies.

MN

Yes, I was advised to reapply once I was under BMI 30.:{ They still retain your application but it doesn't go any further until either your height or weight changes to alter the index. As I don't think I'm going to get any taller I'll have to lose weight.;)

This is so ridiculous, as we all know the BMI means nothing...
I flew with a guy the other day, he was about 175cm but must have weighed in at 50kg maximum, he smoked and drank as if it was going out of fashion, for breakfast he had a cigarette and an espresso and generally had a petty unhealthy lifestyle.
I think he was about 40 but looked more like 55 anyway he according to the GCAA he is a fit individual and is signed off to hold an unrestricted medical without any further blood testes etc...go and figure.
In the meantime, people are being looked over because their BMI is over 30 but yet are fit, healthy sporty individual...:ugh:

Hey Springbok Im 52kg , it was a marlboro light decaff nonalchoholic whiskey and I have a thyroid like an elephants boll0ck.

Seriously though , the only guys being given grief are the high BMIs with big fat tummys and or alarming blood work which correlates with the visual height weight INITIAL indicator.

Now I dont agree with the implementation of the njam winning BMI programme but the sudden increase in every South African suddenly having a past career as a Springbok prop is highly amusing. There are a few healthy ones but alot are big men but are basically big fat men claiming to be rugby experts. That is to say the sun has set on their misty eyed rugby careers and they just have a gut. Now coupled with the mass and medium to high blood work is an indicator of potential future problems.Take it as a positve feedback and lose weight. Who knows you may lose a few inches from you gut and gain a few inches of schlong you havent seen for a while.

As for the applicants. The BMI requirement sight unseen is an unfortunate side effect of a HR driven process and I hope will be addressed by the Pilot recruiters not the office wallahs.

Easy formula.
6 feet 4 inches + muscle = ok
6 feet 4 inches + muscle plus beer gut and bitch tits = not ok
:ok:

JJ,

Good points but the only thing I was trying to point out is that at a time when ME airlines are in need of pilots, using the BMI as a determining criteria before even calling people for an interview is crazy!

There are some very fit and healthy BMI over 30 people around whether or not they were part of any Veteran Boks team...;)

Anyway my BMI is below 30 (just) so I am alright Jack...

GCAA guidance to Aero Medical Examiner's (AME's) about weight and issuing of the Medical Certificate is provided in UAE GCAA CAAP 19 - Aeromedical (<-- 2.3Mb PDF) in particular see section 5.10 Obesity.

This is what the reply looks like if you're BMI 30+

Cheers MM,

Bit of a catch 22 then, can't get passed the application with a BMI in excess of 30 and can't get the doc to sign me off fit unless he/she sees me..interesting one!!!

Monkey, if you want it bad enough, you'll lose the weight.

My situation was that my BMI was 31.2, so it transpired I had to lose 7kg in about 5 weeks.
Guess what, I did it, in fact when I got weighed by the local guy in DXB I'd lost 9kg.
I lived on Tuna salads, and egg noodles for 5 weeks.. I also walked for 2 hrs a day at every opportunity after buying a book on body building diets and fat loss.
So if you want to..you can do it.
Just my 7kg's worth.