1. What is BMI and BSA?

BMI (Body Mass Index): A measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.

BSA (Body Surface Area): The calculated surface area of a human body, often used in medical dosages and assessments.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses two formulas:

Where:

• \( BMI \) — Body Mass Index (kg/m²)
• \( BSA \) — Body Surface Area (m²)
• \( W \) — Weight (kg)
• \( H \) — Height (m for BMI, cm for BSA)

Note: The Mosteller formula is the most commonly used method for BSA calculation.

3. Importance of BMI and BSA

BMI: Used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

BSA: Used to calculate medical dosages, chemotherapy regimens, and other clinical measurements.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms, height in meters for BMI calculation, and height in centimeters for BSA calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why different height units for BMI and BSA?
A: BMI traditionally uses meters while Mosteller's BSA formula uses centimeters. The calculator accommodates both.

Q2: What's a normal BMI range?
A: Generally, 18.5-24.9 is considered normal, below 18.5 is underweight, 25-29.9 is overweight, and 30+ is obese.

Q3: What's the average BSA for adults?
A: The average BSA is about 1.7 m² for adult men and 1.6 m² for adult women.

Q4: Can I use pounds and inches?
A: This calculator uses metric units. For imperial units, convert weight to kg (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) and height to m/cm.

Q5: Why is Mosteller formula preferred?
A: It's simple to calculate and has been validated in numerous clinical studies as accurate.