Body surface area equations for physically active men and women.

Area of Science:

• Anthropometry and Biomechanics
• Medical Imaging and Measurement
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Accurate estimation of body surface area (BSA) is crucial for clinical applications, drug dosing, and physiological assessments.
• Traditional BSA calculation methods often rely on height and weight, potentially leading to inaccuracies in diverse populations.
• Advancements in 3D scanning technology offer a more precise means of measuring body surface area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate new predictive formulae for estimating body surface area (BSA) in healthy men and women.
• To leverage modern three-dimensional scanner technology for improved BSA estimation accuracy.
• To assess the reliability and precision of BSA measurements obtained from a 3D scanner.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a whole body surface scanner (Size Stream SS20) to obtain BSA measurements from 1267 US Marines (803 men, 464 women).
• Assessed the reliability of total and regional BSA measures through triplicate scans.
• Developed predictive formulae for BSA estimation using combinations of sex, height, and mass, and analyzed the association between body fat percentage and formula errors.

Main Results:

• BSA measurements from the SS20 scanner demonstrated high reliability for both total and regional body areas (ICC ≥ .962).
• The derived formulae for BSA estimation using sex, height, and mass were precise, with a root-mean-square deviation of 0.031 m².
• Formula errors were significantly associated with percent body fat in men (p = .001) but not in women (p = .843).

Conclusions:

• The newly developed BSA formulae provide precise estimates for healthy, physically active men and women.
• Clinicians, military leaders, and researchers can utilize these formulae for improved BSA estimations.
• Users should exercise caution, as height- and mass-based BSA estimates may be less accurate for individuals with extreme body fat percentages.