1. What is the Mosteller Formula?

The Mosteller formula is a simple and widely used method to calculate body surface area (BSA) from a person's height and weight. It provides a more accurate measure of metabolic mass than body weight alone.

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 BSA by taking 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, calculating cardiac index, and determining renal clearance. It's considered a better indicator of metabolic rate than body weight alone.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. Both values must be greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use Mosteller formula instead of others?
A: The Mosteller formula is simple, easy to remember, and has been validated against more complex methods. It's widely accepted in clinical practice.

Q2: What are normal BSA values?
A: Average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women, but varies with body size.

Q3: When is BSA used in medicine?
A: Commonly used for chemotherapy dosing, calculating cardiac index, and adjusting drug dosages for pediatric patients.

Q4: Are there limitations to BSA calculations?
A: BSA doesn't account for body composition (muscle vs fat) and may not be accurate for very obese or extremely muscular individuals.

Q5: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: The formula requires metric units. Convert weight from pounds to kg (divide by 2.205) and height from inches to cm (multiply by 2.54).