1. What is the Mosteller Formula?

The Mosteller formula is a simple and widely used method to calculate body surface area (BSA) from height and weight measurements. It provides an estimate of the total surface area of the human body.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( H \) — Height in centimeters (cm)

Explanation: The formula calculates the square root of the product of weight and height divided by 3600.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used in many medical applications including chemotherapy dosing, fluid requirements calculation, and cardiac index determination.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use Mosteller formula instead of others?
A: The Mosteller formula is simple to calculate and has been validated against more complex methods.

Q2: What are typical BSA values?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women.

Q3: When is BSA most important?
A: Particularly important for chemotherapy dosing and pediatric medication calculations.

Q4: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: Less accurate at extremes of body size (very obese or very thin individuals).

Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: The calculator requires kg and cm. Convert pounds to kg (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) and inches to cm (1 in = 2.54 cm).