Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the body surface area of Japanese young adults. There were 45 Japanese young adults measured, the body surface being divided into surface anatomical regions. Measurements were conducted by covering the body with small pieces of inelastic adhesive tape. The followings are the results of this paper: 1) There was a significant difference observed between male and female regarding partial rate of body surface area, as well as a significant difference in relation to body forms. 2) Partial rates of body surface area differed significantly from the measurements found in the studies made by DuBois, Takahira and Fujimoto · Watanabe. 3) Single component calculation formula of body surface area, considering either height (H) or weight (W), gave a higher rate of error as compared with the Height-Weight formula. 4) The body surface area, if calculated using the formula S=100.315W0.383H0.693 (a formula set by the authors), was found out to be close to the actual measured surface area. This formula is the most suitable for a wide variety of subjects. The authors' recommendation is to modify the DuBois Height-Weight formula to 5=72.18W0.425H0.725, changing only the value of the constant. This formula is also suitable for a wide variation of subjects.
