What is Body Surface Area?
Body Surface Area (BSA) is the measured or calculated surface area of a human body. It's used in medicine for calculating drug dosages, medical indicators, and determining the amount of fluids to be administered intravenously.
Medical Applications
BSA is used to calculate chemotherapy doses, determine cardiac index, estimate burn severity, and calculate glucocorticoid doses. It's more accurate than weight alone because it accounts for both height and weight.
The Mosteller Formula
This calculator uses the Mosteller formula, which is the most widely used and simplest BSA formula: BSA (m²) = √[(height(cm) × weight(kg)) / 3600]. Average adult BSA is 1.7-1.8 m².
Quick Tips
- BMI alone doesn't reflect overall health
- TDEE varies based on activity level
- Consult a healthcare professional for medical decisions
Frequently Asked Questions
It provides a more accurate basis for medication dosing than weight alone.
Average adult BSA ranges from 1.6 to 1.9 m², with men typically higher than women.
Yes, especially for chemotherapy and other medication dosing in pediatrics.
Yes, including DuBois, Haycock, and Gehan-George, but Mosteller is most common.
BSA is primarily a medical metric, not typically used for fitness assessment.