1. What is the Mosteller BSA Formula?

The Mosteller formula is a simple and widely used method for calculating body surface area (BSA) from a person's weight and height. It's commonly used in medical practice for drug dosing and other clinical calculations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mosteller formula:

Where:

• \( W \) — Weight in kilograms (kg)
• \( H \) — Height in centimeters (cm)
• \( BSA \) — Body surface area in square meters (m²)

Explanation: The formula calculates the square root of the product of weight and height divided by 3600, providing an estimate of the body's total surface area.

3. Importance of BSA Calculation

Details: BSA is used in medicine for many purposes including calculating chemotherapy drug doses, determining cardiac index, and adjusting parameters in pediatric patients. It's considered more accurate than body weight alone for these purposes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in centimeters. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0). For best accuracy, use precise measurements.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why use Mosteller instead of other BSA formulas?
A: The Mosteller formula is simple to calculate 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. Values vary significantly with body size.

Q3: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: The formula requires kg and cm. Convert pounds to kg (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) and inches to cm (1 in = 2.54 cm) first.

Q4: How accurate is the Mosteller formula?
A: It's generally accurate for most clinical purposes, though may be less precise at extremes of body size (very obese or very thin individuals).

Q5: When is BSA used vs BMI?
A: BSA is used for drug dosing and physiological calculations, while BMI is used for assessing weight categories (underweight, normal, overweight, obese).