CA2387345C

CA2387345C - Visceral adipose meter with body weighing function

Info

Publication number: CA2387345C
Application number: CA002387345A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Shozo Kawanishi; Koichi Okita
Original assignee: Yamato Scale Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yamato Scale Co Ltd
Priority date: 2000-08-31
Filing date: 2001-08-30
Publication date: 2006-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-30
Also published as: EP1314396A1; EP1314396A4; US20030167020A1; CN1388749A; KR20020064301A; US6957167B2; EP1314396B1; WO2002017785A8; HK1049952A1; AU771970B2; AU8254801A; DE60142742D1; HK1049952B; TW542708B; JP4783542B2; CA2387345A1; KR100472703B1; CN100455257C; WO2002017785A1

Abstract

A visceral adipose meter with body weighing function (10) capable of weighin g a body and providing the information on visceral adipose and serviceable easily, comprising a body weighing means (7) capable of weighing a body by putting the body on a measurement surface (3), an input means (7) capable of inputting personal data representing the personal physical characteristics o f persons to be inspected, a calculation processing part capable of performing various types of calculation processings, and a display part (8) capable of displaying the personal data and calculation results, wherein the waist size as the entire peripheral dimension of the trunk of a person to be inspected and the height of the person to be inspected are input to provide the quantitative information on the BMI and abdominal visceral adipose of the person to be inspected.

Description

VISCERAL ADIPOSE METER WITH BODY WEIGHING
FUNCTION
[Technical Field]
The present invention relates to a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function which is capable of measuring weight of a human subject and providing information on visceral fat which is part of internal body fat of the human body through a simple operation.
[Background Art]
Conventionally, attention has been paid to internal body fat content of a person in view of health maintenance.
Specifically, since a rise in internal body fat content of a person may increase a risk for the person to get so called adult diseases, monitoring the internal body fat content of the person may prevent the achzlt diseases. Body mass index (E~II) has been widely used as an index to evaluate the internal body fat content since it can be easily calculated from height and weight of an individual person.
Another useful index to evaluate the internal body fat content of a person is a body fat ratio. Recently, various types of body fat meters capable of measuring the body fat ratio are available on the market, and, with these body fat meters, the 26 body fat ratio can be easily measured at home or the like.

Among the internal body fat, the visceral fat has been believed to be a factor particularly contributing to various complications of arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and so on. For this reason, the visceral fat content has been becoming an important factor in view of health maintenance.
The BMI and the body fat ratio described above are information obtained as average data on internal body fat content in the whole body. Hence, even if the result of the BMI or the body fat ratio does not indicate any health problem, it does not necessarily mean that there is no health problem in relation to the visceral fat content.
Information on the visceral fat can be obtained through a diagnosing method such as abdominal tomography by means of CT scanning, MRI, and so on. This method allows directly observing the abdominal portion itself, thereby making it possible to accurately obtain information on the visceral fat.
Such a method, however, is problematic in that the procedure requires a large scale apparatus installed in a major hospital, a certain length of time necessary for measurement and data analysis, and highly specific technical knowledge for the operation and data analysis . Hence, the method. is not suitable for use at home or the like to obtain the visceral fat content .
On the other hand, weight of a person represents weight of a whole body of the person including the internal body fat and has been used as a typical measure for determining a level ' CA 02387345 2004-11-17 s of obesity of the person. The weight has been easily measured with a weight scale from a long time ago. Thus, if there is a device capable of measuring the weight used as a measure for determining obesity or the like in relation to health maintenance and providing information on the visceral fat through a simple operation, a person can individually make a judgment more appropriate for his health maintenance.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function which is capable of measuring the weight and providing information on the visceral fat and can be used at home or the like through a simple operation.
[Disclosure of the Invention]
In order to achieve the object, according to the present invention, a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprises:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data,including an abdominal girth WL,which is a circumferential length of a torso of a subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates quantitative information on abdominal visceral fat of the s'~~ect including an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross-sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data; and ' CA 02387345 2004-11-17 a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit;
wherein the quantitative information on the abdominal visceral fat of the subject at least one regression coefficient and a regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of a correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat' cross-sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and at least values of the abdominal girth WL
of the human samples; and wherein the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross-sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth WL, the first regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, and the first regression constant.
The state of abdominal visceral fat of the subject has been believed to be strongly correlated with the abdominal girth WL that is one of physical characteristics of the subject. In the visceral fat determining device with the weight measuring function of the present invention, the weight of the subject can be obtained, and the quantitative information on the abdominal visceral fat of the subject can ' CA 02387345 2004-11-17 4a also be obtained based on the abdominal girth WL of the subj ect .
Therefore, the visceral fat determining devise with the weight measuring function of the present invention is capable of measuring the weight serving as a measure for determining obesity which is related to the subject's health condition and providing information on the abdominal visceral fat which is deeply related to the subject's health condition at home or the like through a simple operation.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function can be configured such that height of the subject can be inputted as the personal data through the input means, BMI can be calculated based on the height and the weight through the data processing unit, and the quantitative information on the abdominal visceral fat and/or the BMI can be classfied into a plurality of ranking levels and displayed accordingly on the display portion.
In this way, the quantitative information on the abdominal 5 visceral fat and/or BMI can be stepwisely judged in accordance with each of the above-classified ranking levels.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention can be configured such that an amount of the abdominal visceral fat can be determined based on the abdominal girth Wz as the quantitative information on the abdominal visceral fat. The amount of the abdominal visceral fat is information deeply related to the subject's health condition and therefore can be determined to foresee a possibility of being suffered from adult diseases.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function further comprises:
body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human .body impedance Z of the subj ect through electrodes in contact with the subject's foot serving as the terminals of the body and for calculating the body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the body fat ratio FAT obtained by the body fat ratio measuring means can be displayed on the display portion.
With this configuration, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention is not only capable of providing the information on the abdominal visceral fat but also capable of providing the body fat ratio FAT.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function can be configured to calculate an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA as information related to the visceral fat. When obtaining the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA, a specific correlation between the abdominal girth WL and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is determined based on statistical analysis of correlation between actual values of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA and the personal data including the abdominal girth WL of human bodies of random samples. Then, by applying the above-determined correlation to an individual subject, the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the individual subject is believed to be accurately calculated based on the abdominal girth WL and other data of the individual subject.
A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function capable of providing such an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA comprises:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject s when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth WL which is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject:
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit stores a first regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL and a first regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of lb correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth Wz of the human samples, and the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subj ect is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth WL of the subject, the first regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, and the first regression constant.
The present invention of the visceral fat determining device 26 with a weight measuring function is based on the fact that the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is deeply correlated with the abdominal girth WL. The data processing unit stores a first regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL and a first regression constant obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girths WL of the human samples. And, when a value of the abdominal girth WL is inputted, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is calculated based on the first regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL and the first regression constant.
As described above, according to the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention, the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of a subject which is information related to the visceral fat of the subject can be easily obtained by inputting a value of the abdominal girth Wy which is part of the personal data. In this way, the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA which is information deeply related to the health condition can be obtained through a simple operation.
Furthermore, a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function capable of providing an estimated value of 26 an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA comprises:

weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth WL that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject and height of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit stores a second regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a first regression coefficient of BMI, and a second regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth WL
of the human samples and values of the BMI of the human samples related to the level 'of the obesity, and the data processing unit calculates the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subj ect based on a value of the abdominal girth WL, a value of the BMI, the second regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, the first regression coefficient of the BMI, and the second regression constant.
The present invention of the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function is based on the fact that the 5 abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is correlated with the BMI in addition to the abdominal girth Wz. The data processing unit stores a second regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL and a first regression coefficient of the BMI, and a second regression constant which are obtained based 10 onstatisticalanalysisof correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA
obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth WL and values of the BMI of the human samples . Then, in the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention, when a value of the abdominal girth Wz and a value of the BMI
of the subject are inputted, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained.
Therefore, in the visceral fat determining device with' a weight measuring function of the present invention, in addition to the abdominal girth WL, the BMI of the subj ect can be well reflected in obtaining the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Furthermore, a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprises:

s weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth WL that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, height, sex, and age of the subject:
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data:
a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit;
and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body and for obtaining a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a third regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a first ,regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and a third regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth WL and values of the body fat ratio FAT of the 2b human samples, and s the data processing unit calculates the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subj ect based on a value of the.abdominal girth WL, a value of the body fat ratio FAT obtained by the body fat ratio measuring means, the third regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, and the first regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and the third regression constant.
The invention of the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function is based on the fact that the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is correlated with the body fat ratio FAT in addition to the abdominal girth WL. The data processing unit stores a third regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL and a first regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and a third regression constant which are i6 obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth Wz and values of the body fat ratio FAT. In the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function, when a value of the abdominal girth Wz and a value of the body fat ratio FAT
of the subj ect are inputted, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained.
Therefore, according to the visceral fat determining device of the present invention, the body fat ratio FAT of the subject can well be reflected in obtaining the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA in addition to the abdominal girth WL.
Furthermore, a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprises:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth WL that is a circumferential length of a'torso of the subj ect, height, and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit stores a fourth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a second regression coefficient of BMI, a first regression coefficient of the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and a fourth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in s abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the BMI which is related to the level of obesity of the human samples and values of the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the human samples, and the data processing unit calculates the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subj ect based on a value of the abdominal girth WL, a value of the BMI, a value of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, the fourth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, the second regression coefficient of the BMI, the first regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the fourth regression constant.
The present invention of the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function is based on the fact that the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is correlated with the BMI and the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s in addition to the abdominal girth WL. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention stores a fourth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a second regression coefficient of the BMI, a first regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and a fourth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross 2b sectional areas VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human s bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth WL, values of the BMI, and values of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the human samples . In the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function, when a value 5 of the abdominal girth WL, a value of the BMI, and a value of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject are inputted, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained.
Therefore, in the visceral fat determining device with a 10 weight measuring function, in addition to the abdominal girth WL, the BMI and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s can be well reflected in obtaining the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Furthermore, a visceral fat determining device with a weight lb measuring function of the present invention comprises:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands. on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth Wz that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, height, sex, age, and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject:
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data:
a display portion that displays the personal data and a . CA 02387345 2002-04-04 1s result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit;
and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subj ect through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body and for obtaining the body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a fifth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a second regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, a second regression coefficient of the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s and a fifth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA
obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth WL of the human samples, values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples, and values of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the data processing unit calculates the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VAof the subj ect based on a value of the abdominal girth WL, a value of the body fat ratio FAT obtained with the body fat ratio measuring means, a value of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, the fifth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, the second regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, the second regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the fifth regression constant.
The present invention of the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function is based on the fact that the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is correlated with the body fat ratio FAT and the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s in addition to the abdominal girth Wz. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention stores a fifth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a second regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, a second regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and a fifth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal 16 visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth WL, values of the body fat ratio FAT, and values of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s. With this configuration, when a value of the abdominal girth WL, a value of the body fat ratio FAT, and a value of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject are inputted, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is calculated.
Therefore, in the visceral fat determining device with a 26 weight measuring function, in addition to the abdominal girth E

Wz, the body fat ratio FAT and the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s can be well reflected in obtaining the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function in which the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s can be inputted can be configured to obtain an abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA based on the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s and the abdominal girth WL.
Stillfurthermore,the visceralfat determining device with a weight measuring function can also be configured to obtain a ratio of the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA to the abdominal subcutaneous fat cross ib sectional area SA of the subject, VSR.
Even furthermore, the visceralfat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention can be configured to obtain a total abdominal fat cross sectional area WA based on the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA and the abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA of the subject.
The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function capable of obtaining the abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA offers the following advantages.
Specifically, it has been recently reported that a hormone i secreted from subcutaneous fat of a person tends to reduce internal body fat of the person. Moreover, the subcutaneous fat tends to reduce the negative influence of the visceral fat accumulated in the body due to the intake of excess nutrition.
Therefore, information on the abdominal subcutaneous fat or the ratio of the subcutaneous fat to the visceral fat can be used as an important index for assessing the health condition.
Furthermore, a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention comprises:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subj ect when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth Wz that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject and height of the subject:
16 a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit stores a first regression coefficient of a first abdominal girth index and a sixth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the first abdominal girth index of the human samples obtained by dividing a square of the abdominal girth WL by the height 5 of the human samples and the data processing unit calculates the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subj ect based on a value of the first abdominal girth index, the first regression coefficient of the first abdominal girth index, and 10 the sixth regression constant.
In the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function, an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of a subject is calculated based on correlation with the first abdominal girth index. Herein, 15 an abdominal girth index is defined as an index obtained by dividing a value of a square of the abdominal girth WLOf a subject' s body by height of the subject. This index is believed to be deeply correlated with obesity of the subject .
Furthermore, a visceral fat determining device with a weight 20 measuring function-of the present invention comprises:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subj ect when the subject stands on.a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth WL that is a circumferential length of a torso 26 of the subject, height, sex, and age of the subject:

~ . CA 02387345 2002-04-04 a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit;
and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with feet of the subj ect as terminals of the subj ect' s body and for calculating a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a sixth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a third regression 1S coefficient of BMI, a third regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and a ninth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the BMI of the human samples and values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth Wy, a value of the BMI, a value of the body fat ratio FAT, the sixth regression coefficient of the s abdominal girth WL, the third regression coefficient of the BMI, the third regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and the ninth regression constant.
The present invention of the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function is based on the fact that the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is correlated with the BMI and the body fat ratio FAT in addition to the abdominal girth WL. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention stores a sixth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a third regression coefficient of the BMI, a third regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and a ninth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured~values of the abdominal 16 visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth WL of the human samples, values.of the BMI of the human samples, and values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples. In the visceral fat determining device a the weight measuring function, by inputting values of the abdominal girth Wz, of the BMI, and of the body fat ratio FAT of the subj ect, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject can be obtained.
Therefore, in the visceral fat determining device with a 26 weight measuring function, in addition to the abdominal girth WL, the BMI and the body fat ratio FAT can be well reflected in obtaining the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Furthermore, a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprises:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth WL that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subj ect, height, sex, age, and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject:
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with feet of the subject as terminals of the subject's body and for calculating a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein 26 the data processing unit stores a seventh regression . CA 02387345 2002-04-04 coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a fourth regression coefficient of BMI, a fourth regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, a third regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and a tenth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the BMI of the human samples, values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples, and values of the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the human samples and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subj ect is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth WL, a value of the BMI, a value of the body fat ratio FAT, a value of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, the seventh regression coefficient of the abdominal girth Wz, the fourth-regression coefficient of the BMI, the fourth regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, the third regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the tenth regression constant .
The present invention of the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function is based on the fact that the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is correlated with the BMI, the body fat ratio FAT, and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s in addition to the abdominal s girth WL. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function stores a seventh regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a fourth regression coefficient of the BMI, a fourth regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, 5 a third regression coefficient of the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and a tenth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human 10 bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth WL
of the human samples, values of the BMI of the human samples, values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples, and values of the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the human samples.
15 In the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function, by inputting a value of the abdominal girth WL, a value of the BMI, a value of the body fat ratio FAT, and a value of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross 20 sectional area VA of the subject can be obtained. Therefore, in the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function, in addition to the abdominal girth Wz, the BMI, the body fat ratio FAT, and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s can be well reflected in obtaining the estimated value 25 of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.

s Furthermore, a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention comprises:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth Wz that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject and height of the subject a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, and impedance measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subj ect through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body, wherein the data processing unit stores an eighth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a first regression coefficient of a term (TL2 / Z), and an eleventh regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between the actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of 'human bodies of random samples and values of~the abdominal girth WL of the human samp~.es and values of i 2?
the term (TL2 / Z) obtained by dividing a square of height TL
by the body impedance Z and the data processing unit calculates the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subj ect based on a value of the abdominal girth WL, a value of the body impedance Z measured with the impedance measuring means, a value of the height TL obtained through the input means, the eighth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, and the first regression coefficient of the term (TL2 / Z) , and the eleventh regression constant.
The present invention of the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function is based on the fact that the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA .is correlated with the term (TL2 / Z) in addition to the abdominal lb girth Wz. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function stores an eighth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, and a first regression coefficient of the term (Tz2 / Z) , and an eleventh regression constant obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional areas VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth Wz and values of the term (Tz2 / Z) .
In the visceral fat determining device with a weight 26 measuring function, when a value of the abdominal girth WL and , a value of the height TL of the subject are inputted together with a value of the measured body impedance Z, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject can be obtained. Therefore, in the visceral fat determining device of the present invention, in addition to the abdominal girthWz, the term (TL2 / Z) can be reflected in obtaining the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Furthermore, a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention comprises:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subj ect when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth WL that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject and height of the subject:
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit;
and impedance measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subj ect through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body, wherein 2b the data processing unit stores a ninth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, a first regression coefficient of the body impedance Z, and a twelfth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth WL of the human samples and values of the body impedance Z of the human samples and the data processing unit calculates the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subj ect based on a value of the abdominal girth Wz, a value of the body impedance Z measured with the impedance measuring means, the ninth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth WL, and the first regression coefficient of the body impedance Z, and the 16 twelfth regression constant.
The present invention of the visceral fat determining device is based on the fact that the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is correlated with the human body impedance Z in addition to the abdominal girth WL. The visceral fat determining device stores a ninth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth Wz, a first regression coefficient of the body impedance Z, and a twelfth regression constant which are obtained .
based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional 26 area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random s ~ CA 02387345 2002-04-04 samples and values of the abdominal girth WL of the human samples and values of the body impedance Z of the human samples.
In the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function, by inputting a value of the abdominal girth 5 WL of the subj ect and measuring the body impedance Z, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject can be obtained. Therefore, in the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function, in addition to the abdominal girth WL, the body impedance Z can be reflected 10 in obtaining the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Furthermore, a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention comprises:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject 16 when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth WL that is a circumferential length of a torso of a subject, height, sex, and age of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and 20 calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit;
and 26 body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body s impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body and for obtaining a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a first regression.
coefficient of a term (Wz2~TL~age) and a first regression coefficient of a term (WL2 ~ TL ~ FAT) , and a thirteenth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random male samples and values of the term (Wz2 ~ TL ~ age) obtained by multiplying a square of an abdominal girth Wz of the human samples, the height TL of the human samples, and the age of the human samples and values of the term of (Wz2 ~ TL ~ FAT) obtained by multiplying a square of the abdominal girth WL of the human samples, the height TL
of the human samples, and the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples and when inputted subject's personal data of sex is "male"
through the input means, the data processing unit calculates the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the male subj ect based on a value of the abdominal girth Wy of the male subject, a value of the age of the male subj ect inputted through the input means, a value of the body 26 fat ratio FAT of the male subject measured with the body fat , CA 02387345 2002-04-04 ratio measuring means, the first regression coefficient of the term (WL2 ~ TL ~ age) , the first regression coefficient of the term (WL2~TL~ FAT), and the thirteenth regression constant.
In the case that the subject is male, the present invention of the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function is based on the fact that the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is deeply correlated with the terms (Wz2 ~ TL ~ age) and (Wz2 ~ TL ~ FAT) representing the physical characteristics. Therefore, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function stores a first regression coefficient of the term (WLZ ~ TL ~ age) , a first regression coefficient of the term (WL2 ~ Tz ~ FAT) , and a thirteenth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random male samples and values of the term (WL2 ~ TL ~ age) of the human male samples and values of the term (WLZ ~ TL ~ FAT) of the human male samples .
By inputting a value of the abdominal girth WL and a value of the height TL of the male subj ect and by measuring the body fat ratio FAT of the male subject, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the male subj ect can be obtained. In the case that the sub j ect is male, in the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional , CA 02387345 2002-04-04 area VA of the male subject is more accurately obtained.
Furthermore, a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention comprises:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth WL that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, height, weight, sex, and age of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit;
and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subj ect through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body and for obtaining a body fat ratio FAT of the subj ect based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a second regression coefficient of the term (WL2 ~ Tz ~ age) , a fifth regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and a fourteenth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal 2b visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random female samples and values of the term (WLZ ~ TL ~ age) obtained by multiplying a square of the abdominal girth Wz2 of the human samples, the height TL of the human samples, and the age of the human samples and values 6 of the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples and in the case that inputted subject's personal data of sex is "female", the data processing unit calculates the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the female subject based on a value of the abdominal girth WL
of the female subject, a value of the age of the female subject inputted through the input means, a value of the body fat ratio FAT of the female subject measured with the body fat ratio measuring means, the first regression coefficient of the term (Wz2 ~ TL ~ age) , the first regression coefficient of the term (WLZ
~TL~FAT), and the fourteenth regression constant.
The present invention of the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function is based on the fact that the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is deeply correlated with the term (Wz2 ~ Tz ~ age) and the body fat ratio FAT of the female subject. The visceral fat determining device stores a second regression coefficient of the term (WL2 ~ TL ~ age) and a fifth regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and a fourteenth regression constant which are obtained based onstatisticalanalysisof correlation between actually measured 26 values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA

~ . CA 02387345 2002-04-04 obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random female samples and values of the term (WLZ ~ TL ~ age) of the human female samples and values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human female samples.
5 By inputting a value of the abdominal girth WL, a value of the height TL, and a value of the age of the female subject and by measuring the body fat ratio FAT, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the female subj ect can be obtained. As described above, in the visceral 10 fat determining device with a weight measuring function, in the case that the subject is female, an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is more accurately obtained.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device with a 15 weight measuring function can be configured such that the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject can be obtained with addition of a correction term of the age and a correction term of the sex of the subject.
20 In this way, the physical characteristics of the subject such as age and sex can be well reflected in obtaining the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject. In this case, the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject 25 can be corrected with the age, the sex, or both of them.

Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function capable of providing an estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA can be configured such that a plurality of ranking levels are in advance defined based on a plurality of standard values for the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA, and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is displayed on the display portion in accordance with a plurality of the ranking levels.
In this way, since the measured result given as the quantitative information of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA can be visually grasped through a visually graded scale on the display, understanding of the obtained abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA becomes easier.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function capable of calculating the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA based on correlation with the BMI can be configured such that a plurality of ranking levels are in advance defined based on a plurality of standard values for the BMI, and the BMI of the subject is displayed on the display portion in accordance with the ranking levels.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function can be configured such that in addition to a plurality of ranking levels of the BMI to be in 3?
advance defined based on a plurality of standard values for the BMI, a plurality of ranking levels are in advance defined based on a plurality of standard values for the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA, and in addition to the BMI of the subject, the obtained estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is also displayed on the display portion in accordance with the ranking levels .
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function capable of obtaining the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA based on correlation with the BMI can be configured such that a judging standard value is in advance defined for each of the abdominal girth WL, the BMI, and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA, and obesity of a subject is judged based on comparison 16 of each of values of the abdominal girth WL, the BMI, and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subj ect with each of the judging standard values defined in advance.
Furthermore, the judging standard values to be defined in advance can be set to be 25 for the BMI, 100 cm2 for the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA, 85 cm for the abdominal girth Wz of male subjects, and 90 cm for the abdominal girth Wz of female subjects.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function can be configured such that measured results of the weight and the abdominal visceral fat cross , CA 02387345 2002-04-04 sectional area VA are stored for a certain length of time, and amounts of changes between the stored weight which is a measured result in the past and the weight measured most recently and between the stored abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA which is a measured result in the past and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA measured most recently can be obtained.
Moreover, the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function can also be configure such that a ratio of the amount of the change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA to the amount of the change of the weight (the amount of the change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA / the amount of change of the weight) can be obtained.
Furthermore, a circumferential length of an abdomen at 4th lumbar vertebrae of the subject can be used as the abdominal girth WL.
In this way, use of the abdominal girth Wy obtained at the portion of the subject enables to obtain measured results strongly correlated with the visceral fat condition of the subject.
[Brief Description of the Drawings]
Fig. 1 (a) is a perspective view of an example of a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function;
Fig. 1 (b) is a view representing an example of a display of the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring s function;
Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram representing a signal processing in the visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function;
Fig. 3 is a flow chart representing an example of procedures required to measure an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area;
Fig. 4 is a flow chart representing an example of procedures required to measure various kinds of cross sectional areas at an abdominal portion;
Fig. 5 is a table representing a set of judging standard values for obesity.
[Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to Figs. 1-5. Fig. 1 shows a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function 10 (hereinafter, referred to as "visceral fat determining device 10") as an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 (a) is a perspective view of the visceral fat determining device 10.
The visceral fat determining device 10 comprising weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when a subject stands on a measuring surface 3. Specifically, weight of the 26 subject on the measuring surface 3 is measured in such a way s that a load cell (not shown) provided inside the visceral fat determining device 10 detects the weight and then the detected result is digitized.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device 10 is 5 capable of obtaining information related to visceral fat of the subject such as an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA which is a cross sectional area of the visceral fat at the abdomen and a total abdominal fat cross sectional area WA including abdominal subcutaneous fat.
10 Furthermore, with the visceral fat determining device 10, BMI which has been conventionally used as an index of obesity level can be also obtained. The BMI is to be obtained through a well-known formula developed based on the subject's height and weight as part of the personal data as described later.
15 The visceral fat determining device 10 is provided with an operation portion 7 including a plurality of keys to be used for inputting numerical values, letters, and so on. Through these keys, the personal data representing physical characteristics of the subject can be inputted: In other words 20 a plurality of keys necessary for inputting the personal data are provided. That is, the operation portion 7 corresponds to serve as means for inputting the personal data.
The personal data to be inputted into the visceral fat determining device 10 include height and waist size (hereinafter, 26 referred to as "abdominal girth") of the subject. As the abdominal girth WL, a circumferential length of an abdomen at 4th lumbar vertebrae of the subject is preferred because it is strongly correlated with the state of the visceral fat of the subject.
Furthermore, the personal data to be inputted may also include a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subj ect, which can be measured using a number of well known subcutaneous fat thickness measuring means such as a caliper, an ultrasonic probe, and so on.
Moreover, the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subj ect to be inputted into the visceral fat determining device may be the value at the side umbilical region, the value at the ilium upper part, the sum thereof, or an average of the sum.
16 Furthermore, in calculating the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA, as described later, if formula requiring data of an human body impedance Z and a body fat ratio FAT of the subj ect is to be used, values of the body impedance Z and the body fat ratio FAT of the subject can be inputted through an operation portion 7. In other words, known values of the body impedance Z and the body fat ratio FAT of the subject obtained elsewhere can be inputted through the operation of the operation portion 7.
The operation portion 7 is provided with a plurality of 2b keys such as a selection key for selecting items of the personal . CA 02387345 2002-04-04 data and numeric keys for inputting values. Furthermore, the operation portion 7 is also provided with an ON/OFF power switch for turning on and off the visceral fat determining device 10 and an impedance measurement starting switch for starting a measurement of a bioelectrical impedance Z to be explained later .
Furthermore, with the operation portion 7, a plurality of measurement modes can be selected for the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA. In accordance with the selected mode, a corresponding measurement routine such as a first measurement routine and a second measurement routine that will be described later is executed.
A display portion 8 displays various kinds of the personal data inputted through the operation portion 7, a measured value of the weight, and a value of the BMI calculated from the inputted personal data and the weight value, as well as information associated with the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Fig. 1 (b) is a view of an example of the display on the display portion~8. In Fig. 1 (b), a measured result of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is shown as classified in a plurality of ranking levels. Those indicated by 8 a, 8 b, and 8 c in Fig. 1 (b) are ranking bars representing the ranking levels . A plurality of standard values are defined in advance for the BMI and the abdominal visceral fat.cross 26 sectional area VA, and then compared with measured values of s the BMI and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
And, then, which ranking levels the measured values of the BMI
and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject are classified to is determined and displayed.
According to the example given in Fig. 1 (b) , the display shows that the value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject corresponds to the ranking bar 8 b.
Furthermore, as shown in Fig l (b), level indicators 8d and 8e can also be displayed. The level indicators .8d and 8e can be correlated with specific symptoms related to the visceral fat. For example, if a value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of a person is larger than 100 cm2, or a value of the BMI of the person is higher than 25, then, the person may be clinically diagnosed to be obese. Therefore, the level indicator 8e may be set to correspond to 100 cm2 for the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA or to 25 for the BMI.
As shown in Fig. (b) , displaying a measured result obtained as a quantitative value in accordance with ranking levels or displaying the measured result in accordance with symptoms of possible diseases from which the person might be suffering can allow visual, stepwise, and lucid interpretation of the results in accordance with the measured result.
Referring to Fig. 2, a block diagram representing signal processing in the visceral fat determining device 10 is described.
Various types of calculations can be performed by a data processing unit 12 including a central processing unit (CPU) 14 and a storage device 15.
The storage device 15 stores the personal data inputted through the function keys provided with the operation' portion b 7 . The storage device 15 also stores weight data measured through the weight measuring means. Furthermore, once estimated values of the BMI and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA are obtained, they are also stored in the storage device 15.
Furthermore, the storage device 15 stores an operation instruction routine including procedures necessary for giving the subject required guidance and instructions on how to operate the visceral fat determining device 10 and measurement routines including procedures for calculating BMI, the body fat ratio FAT, and the estimated values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA. The measurement routines include a first measurement routine and a second measurement routine as described later in an execution example of the measurement routines.
Furthermore, the storage device 15 stores a first regression coefficient al of the abdominal girth Wz, a second regression coefficient a2 of the abdominal girth WL, a third regression coefficient a3 of the abdominal girth WL, a fourth regression coefficient aq of the abdominal girth WL, a fifth regression coefficient a5 of the abdominal girth Wz, a sixth regression 26 coefficient as of the abdominal girth WL, a seventh regression 4s coefficient a7 of the abdominal girth WL, a eighth regression coefficient ae of the abdominal girth WL, a ninth regression coefficient a9 of the abdominal girth WL, a first regression coefficient fl of the first abdominal girth index, a second regression coefficient f2 of the second abdominal girth index, a first regression coefficient bl of BMI, a second regression coefficient b2 of BMI, a third regression coefficient b3 of BMI, a fourth regression coefficient b4 of BMI, a first regression coefficient dl of the body fat ratio FAT, a second regression coefficient d2 of the body fat ratio FAT, a third regression coefficient d3 of the body fat ratio FAT, a fourth regression coefficient d4 of the body fat ratio FAT, a fifth regression coefficient ds of the body fat ratio FAT, a first regression coefficient el of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, a second regression coefficient e2 of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, a third regression coefficient e3 of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s ,a first regression constant cl, a second regression constant c2, a third regression constant c3, a fourth regression constant cq, a fifth regression constant c5, a sixth regression constant cs, an eighth regression constant ce, an eleventh regression constant cll, a twelfth regression constant c12, a thirteenth regression constant c13. and a fourteenth regression constant c14.
Furthermore, the storage device 15 stores a first regression coefficient hl for the term (Wz2 ~ TL ~ FAT) obtained by multiplying f a square of the abdominal girth WL2, the height TL, and the body fat ratio FAT and a first regression coefficient il for the term (WL2 ~ TL ~ age) obtained by multiplying a square of the abdominal girth WL2, the height TL, and the age.
Furthermore, the storage device 15 stores a second regression coefficient i2 for the term (WL2 ~ TL ~ age) obtained by multiplying a square of the abdominal girth WL2; the height TL, and the age .
These regression coefficients and constants al, a2, a3, a4, 1~ a5, a6r a7r a8r a9r blr b2r bar b4r Clr C2r C3r C4r CSr C6r C8r C9r ClOr Cllr Cl2r Cl3r Cl9r dlr d2r d3r d4r d5r elr e2r ear flr f2r glr hl, il, i2, and j 1 are obtained elsewhere and then inputted into the visceral fat determining device 10 for storage.
These regression coefficients and constants are obtained in the following procedure. Specifically,the actualabdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of each of a number of individualswho are randomlyselectedismeasured. In addition, the abdominal girth WL, the BMI, the impedance Z, the body fat ratio FAT, the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the height TL of each of the individuals are also measured.
The first regression coefficient al of the abdominal girth WL and the first regression constant cl can be obtained by statistically correlating the abdominal girth Wz with the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA. Also, the second regression coefficient a2 of the abdominal a ~ CA 02387345 2002-04-04 girth WL, the first regression coefficient bl of the BMI, and the second regression constant c2 can be obtained by statistically analyzing correlation between the abdominal girth WL, the BMI, and the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Moreover, the third regression coefficient a3 of the abdominal girth Wz, the first regression coefficient dl of the body fat ratio FAT, and the third regression constant c3 can be obtained by statistically analyzing correlation between the abdominal girth WL, the body fat ratio FAT, and the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA:
Furthermore, the fourth regression coefficient a9 of the abdominal girth WL, the second regression coefficient b2 of the BMI, the first regression coefficient el of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the fourth regression constant c4 can be obtained by statistically analyzing correlation between the abdominal girth WL, the BMI, the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s and the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
What is more, the fifth regression coefficient a5 of the abdominal girth Wz, the second regression coefficient d2 of the body fat ratio FAT, the second regression coefficient e2 of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the fifth regression constant cs can be obtained by statistically analyzing 2S correlation between the abdominal girth WL, the body fat ratio FAT, the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Furthermore, the sixth regression coefficient a6 of the abdominal girth Wz, the third regression coefficient b3 of the BMI, the third regression coefficient d3 of the body fat ratio FAT, and the ninth regression constant c9 can be obtained by statistically analyzing correlation among the abdominal girth WL, the BMI, the body fat ratio FAT, and the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Furthermore, the seventh regression coefficient a~ of the abdominal girth Wz, the fourth regression coefficient b4 of the BMI, the fourth regression coefficient dq of the body fat ratio FAT, and the tenth regression constant clo can be obtained by statistically analyzing correlation among the abdominal girth WL, the BMI, the body fat ratio FAT, the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Even furthermore, the first regression coefficient fl of the first abdominal girth index, and the sixth regression constant c6 can be obtained by statistically correlating the first abdominal girth index obtained by dividing a square of the abdominal girth WL by the height with the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA. Also, the second regression coefficient f2 of the second abdominal girth index, ~ CA 02387345 2002-04-04 and the eighth regression constant ce can be obtained by statistically correlating the second abdominal girth index obtained by dividing a square of the abdominal girth WL by the height with the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Furthermore, the eighth regression coefficient ae of the abdominal girth WL, the first regression coefficient jl for the term (TL2 / Z) , and the eleventh regression constant cll can be obtained by statistically analyzing correlation among the abdominal girth Wz, the term (TLZ / Z ) , and the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Also, the ninth regression coefficient a9 of the abdominal girth WL, the first regression coefficient gl for the impedance Z, and the twelfth regression constant c12 can be obtained by statistically analyzing correlation among the abdominal girth Wz, the impedance Z, and the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Also, the first regression coefficient il for the term (WLz ~ TL ~ age) , the first regression coefficient hl for the term (Wz2 ~ TL ~ FAT) , and the thirteenth regression constant c13 can be obtained by statistically analyzing correlation among the term (WL2 ~ Tz ~ age) , the term (WL2 ~ TL ~ FAT) , and the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Specifically, the first regression coefficient il for the term (Wz2 ~ TL ~ age) , the first regression coefficient hl for the s ~ CA 02387345 2002-04-04 term (WL2 ~ TL ~ FAT) , and the thirteenth regression constant c13 are statistically determined based on human bodies of a number of male subjects who are randomly selected. More specifically, these coefficients il, hl, and c13 are, as described later, used 6 in formula to calculate an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of a subject in ,the case that the subject is male.
The second regression coefficient i2 for the term (WL2 ~ Tz ~ age) , the fifth regression coefficient d5 of the body fat ratio 10 FAT, and the fourteenth regression constant clq can be obtained by statistically analyzing correlation between the term (WLZ
~ TL ~ age) , the body fat ratio FAT, and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Specifically, the second regression coefficient i2 for the 16 term (Wz2 ~ TL ~ age) , the fifth regression coefficient d5 of the body fat ratio FAT, and the fourteenth regression constant cl4 are statistically determined based on human bodies of a number of female subjects who are randomly selected. More specifically, these coefficient i2, d5, and c14 are, as described later, used 20 in formula to calculate an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of a subj ect in the case that the subject is female.
In order to determine these coefficients from ai to jl, the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area 25 VA can be statistically correlated with personal data of each ~ CA 02387345 2002-04-04 individual subject by means of a regression analysis. For example, the first regression coefficient ai of the abdominal girthWLandthe first regression constant cl obtained with respect to al can be obtained by single regression analysis based on 6 an assumption that the actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is exclusively correlated with the abdominal girth WL. Furthermore, when there is a correlation between the abdominal girth Wz, other personal data, and actually measured abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA, then the coefficients can be obtained by multiple regression analysis..
The abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of human bodies of random samples is actually obtained through tomography.
This tomography can be provided with a plurality of different 16 means such as CT scanning, MRI, ultrasonic diagnosis, and any other methods capable of performing accurate measurements of human abdominal cross sections. Furthermore, in determining the coefficients from al to jl, the number of subjects required for statistically analyzing the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA should preferably be more than 100, more preferably more than 500.
Referring to a block diagram representingsignalprocessing in the visceral fat determining device 10 in Fig. 2, data and measured values stored in the storage device 15 can be displayed 2b on the display portion 8. Furthermore, the data and measured ~ CA 02387345 2002-04-04 values are inputted / outputted to / from the central processing unit 14 and the storage device 15 through an input / output device 16 for further processing.
Referring to Fig. 3, an example of the operation of the visceral fat determining device 10 will be described. When the visceral fat determining device 10 is turned on, and the first measurement mode is selected through the operation portion 7, the first measurement routine is started.
First, personal data which.are body specific information including height, weight, age, sex, and abdominal girth WL of a subject are inputted by the subject and stored (S1).
Then, the subj ect stands on the weight measuring surface and the weight is measured and stored ( S2 ) . A value of the BMI
is obtained through the calculation based on the height inputted 16 in (S1) and the weight measured in (S2) and stored (S3). An estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is calculated from the abdominal girth WL (S5). The value of the BMI, the value of the weight, and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA
obtained above are displayed on the display portion 8 (S5).
In procedure (S5) , when the obtained results are displayed on the display portion 8, more than one of the values of the BMI, the weight, and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA may be displayed simultaneously. In the case that more 26 than of the obtained results are displayed, if the values of the weight and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA are simultaneously displayed, the relationship between the two are grasped directly from what is displayed on the display portion 8.
S The estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA in (S5) is calculated with formula (1).
VA = al WL + cl (1) In procedure (S5) shown in Fig. 3, the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is assumed to exclusively correlate with the abdominal girth WL of the subject, and the estimated value of VA is calculated using the coefficients of al and cl and the abdominal girth WL. The formula (1) may be replaced by the following formulae from (2) to (9) to calculate the estimated value of VA.
lb VA = a2 + bl BMI + c2 (2 Wy ) VA = a3 + dl FAT + c3 ( ) VA = a9 + b2 BMI + el s + c4 ( ) VA = as + d2 FAT + e2 s + c5 ( Wy 5 ) VA = as + b3 BMI + d3 FAT + c9 ( Wy 6 ) VA = a~ + b9 BMI + d4 FAT + e3 s + clo ( Wy 7 ) VA = a8 + ji (TL2/ Z) + cll (8) WL

VA = a9 + gl Z cl2 ( WL + 9 ) In formula (2), the estimated value of VA is calculated based on the assumption that the VA is exclusively correlated with the abdominal girth Wz and BMI of the subject.
In formula ( 3 ) , the VA is calculated based on the assumption that the VA is exclusively correlated with the abdominal girth WL and the body fat ratio FAT of the subject.
In formula (9), the estimated value of VA is calculated based on the assumption that the VA is exclusively correlated with the abdominal girth Wz, BMI, and thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject.
In formula (5), the estimated value of VA is calculated based on the assumption that the VA is exclusively correlated with the abdominal girth WL, the body fat ratio FAT, and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject.
In formula (8), the estimated value of VA is calculated based on the assumption that the VA is exclusively correlated with the abdominal girth WL and the term (TLZ / Z) obtained by dividing the square of the height Tz2 by the impedance Z of the subject.
In formula (9), the estimated value of VA is calculated based on the assumption that the VA is exclusively correlated with the abdominal girth WL and the impedance Z of the subj ect .
As should be understood from the above, while, in the formula (1), the estimated value of VA is calculated based on the correlation with the abdominal girth WL, in the formulae from (2) to (9), the estimated value of VA is calculated based on the correlation with a plurality of terms of the personal data .

Therefore, the formulae from (2) to (9), with the correlation of a plurality of values of the personal data, can provide the estimated value of VA with moreprecise reflection of the physical characteristics of the individual subject.
5 In formula ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , or ( 7 ) including the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, the estimated value of VA can reflect the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat of the subject.
On the other hand, the calculation of an estimated value 10 of VA using the formula (1) - (3), (6), (8), (9) has the following advantage. Measurement of a thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s require burdensome procedure such as measuring with a caliper or the like. With the formulae (1) - (3), (6), (8), (9), however, a thickness of the abdominal 15 subcutaneous fat s is not required to be inputted. Thus, in obtaining an estimated value of VA using the formula ( 1 ) - ( 3 ) , (6), (8), (9), the burdensome procedure of obtaining the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s can be avoided.
The estimated value of VA can be calculated based on 20 assumption that the VA is exclusively correlated with the abdominal girth index. In formulae ( 10 ) and ( 11 ) , the estimated value of VA can be calculated based on correlation with the abdominal girth index.
VA = fl ~ (WLZ / TL) + c6 ' ( 10 ) 25 VA = f2 ~ (WL / TL) + ce ( 11 ) ~ CA 02387345 2002-04-04 ss In formula ( 10 ) , the estimated value of VA can be calculated based on correlation with the first abdominal girth index. In formula ( 11 ) , the estimated value of VA can be calculated based on correlation with the second abdominal girth index. In formulae (10) and (11), TL is height of the subject.
The first abdominal girth index in formula (10) can be obtained by the term (WL2 / TL) . The second abdominal girth index in formula ( 11 ) can be obtained by the term (WL / TL) . With formula ( 10 ) or ( 11 ) , the estimated value of VA can be calculated based on correlation with the first abdominal girth index or the second abdominal girth~index which is known to be highly correlated with obesity.
Furthermore, the estimated value of VA can be calculated based on correlation with the terms (WL2 ~ TL ~ age) and (WL2 ~ TL
16 ~FAT). In formula (12), the estimated value of VA can be calculated based on correlation with the terms (WL2~TL~age) and (Wz2 ~ TL ~ FAT) .
VA = il ~ WL2 ~ TL ~ age + hl ~ WL2 ~ TL ~ FAT - c13 ( 12 ) With the formula (12), the estimated value of VA can be more accurately calculated when the subj ect is male . Therefore, in the case where "male" is entered as the sex of the subject through the operation portion 7, the formula ( 12 ) should be chosen to accurately calculate the estimated value of VA for the male subject.
26 Also, the estimated value of VA can be calculated based ~ CA 02387345 2002-04-04 on correlation with the term (WL2 ~ TL ~ age) and the body fat ratio FAT . In formula ( 13 ) , the estimated value of VA can be calculated based on correlation with the term (Wz2 ~ TL ~ age) and body fat ratio FAT.
VA = i2 ~ WL2 ~ TL ~ age + d5 ~ FAT - c19 ( 13 ) With the formula (13), the estimated value of VA can be more accurately calculated when a subj ect is a female . Therefore, in the case where "female" is entered as the sex of the subject through the operation portion 7, the formula ( 13 ) should be chosen to accurately calculate the estimated value of VA for the female subject.
Furthermore, each of the formulae from ( 1 ) to ( 13 ) may include correction terms on the basis of age arid sex. The age correction term Yc is given by formula ( 14 ) , and the sex correction term Xc is given by formula (15).
Yc =. - b ~ age ( 14 ) Xc = rJ w sex ( 15 ) In formula (14), "age" is the age of the subject, and b is an age correction coefficient. Also, in formula (15), "sex"
is a variable depending on the sex of the subject, and r~ is a sex correction coefficient. In the case that these correction terms are included in the formulae from ( 1 ) to ( 13 ) , they are defined and treated as variable terms of the multiple regression equation. Therefore, 8 and age are defined as a regression coefficient and a variable respectively in the formula (14).

s ~ CA 02387345 2002-04-04 Also, ~7 and sex are defined as a regression coefficient and a variable respectively in the formula (15) . These are obtained based on correlation with the estimation formulae for VA.
Addition of the correction terms Xc given by the formula ( 14 ) and Yc given by the formula ( 15 ) to the formulae from ( 1 ) to (13) in the calculation of VA makes it possible to more precisely reflect the personal physical characteristics of the subject in terms of the age and sex.
Either one or both of the correction terms Xc and Yc may be added to the formulae from ( 1 ) to ( 13 ) . If both of the terms Xc and Yc are added in the calculation of VA using any one of the formulae from (1) to (13), it becomes possible to obtain the VA with more precise reflection of the personal physical characteristics of the subject.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device 10 described above can be provided with body fat ratio measuring means (not shown) for measuring a body fat ratio FAT of a subject.
Specifically, a pair of current path forming electrodes to form an electric current path within the body of the subj ect and a pair of voltage measurement electrodes to measure a human body impedance of the subject are formed on a measuring surface of the visceral fat determining device 10. These electrodes are provided in such a way that each of the soles of the left and right feet of the subject is in contact with one of the current path forming electrodes and one of the voltage measurement s electrodes when the subject stands on the measuring surface 3.
An electric current source being connected with a pair of the current path forming electrodes provides an electric current flowed into the body of the subject and impedance measuring means being contacted with a pair of the voltage measurement electrodes measure the potential difference between the electrodes. In this way, a human body impedance Z can be measured through both of the feet as terminals of the body of the subject.
Furthermore, since required personal data are needed in obtaining a body fat ratio FAT of the subject, the required personal data such as age and sex of the subject may be inputted through the operation portion 7.
And, the above measured body impedance of the subj ect and the personal data inputted through the operation portion 7 are stored in the storage device 15. Furthermore, various kinds of formulae and coefficients necessary for calculation of the body fat ratio FAT based on the body impedance Z and the personal data are stored in the storage device 15, and the body fat ratio FAT is obtained by calculation through the data processing unit 12 .
If a human body impedance Z and a body fat ratio FAT of a subj ect can be measured in such a way as described above, the measured results of the body impedance Z and body fat ratio FAT
of the subject can be used in obtaining the abdominal visceral fat area VA.

s In this way, the abdominal visceral fat area VA of the subj ect related to information of the visceral fat can be obtained through calculation using latest values of the body impedance Z and body fat ratio FAT of the subject to be timely measured on-site.
Furthermore, an amount of the abdominal visceral fat of the subj ect which is given as information related to the visceral fat can also be calculated based on the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA thus obtained.
Next, referring to Fig. 4, another operation example of the visceral fat determining device 10 will be described. When the second measurement mode is selected through the operation portion 7, then the second measurement routine is started. First, a circumferential length of a torso of a subject as the abdominal girth WL is inputted by the subj ect ( S11 ) . Then, the subcutaneous fat cross sectional area (SA) is calculated and stored (S12) .
In step (S12), the calculation of the SA is performed by using the following formula (16).
SA = Wz ~ s -~ ~ s2 (16) In formula (16), WL is the circumferential length of the abdomen and s is the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat of the subject.
Then, a total abdominal cross sectional area AW is calculated and stored (S13) . In step (S13) , AW is calculated by using the following formula (17).
AW = ~ ~ ( WL2 / 4 ~ ) ( 17 ) i sl In formula (17), n is the circular constant pi. ~ is a conversion coefficient for a conversion between circular and oval circumferences.
Then, based on the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA and SA, the total abdominal fat cross sectional area WA is calculated and stored (S14). In step (S14), the WA is calculated by using the following formula (18).
WA = VA + SA (18) Then, VSR, a ratio of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA to the abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA, is calculated and stored (S15) . In step (S15) , VSR is calculated by using the following formula (19).
VSR = VA / SA (19) Then, a VWR which is a ratio of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA to the total abdominal fat cross sectional area WA and a VAR which is a ratio of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA to the total abdominal fat cross sectional areaAWarecalculatedandstored (S16) . Instep (S16) , VWR and VAR are calculated by using the following formulae ( 20 ) and (21) respectively.
VWR = VA / WA (20) VAR = VA / AW (21) Then, a SWR, a ratio of the abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA to the abdominal total fat cross sectional area of WA, and a SAR, a ratio of the abdominal subcutaneous i , CA 02387345 2002-04-04 fat cross sectional area SA to the total abdominal cross sectional area AW, are calculated and stored (S17). In step (S17), SWR
and SAR are calculated by using the following formulae (22) and (23) respectively.
6 SWR = SA / WA (22) SAR = SA / AW (23) Then, calculated values of SA, VSR, VWR, VAR, SWR, and SAR
are displayed on the display portion 8 (S18) . Furthermore, the abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA is rated in a plurality of ranking levels and displayed on the display portion 8 in accordance with the ranking (S19).
In the above description referring to Figs. from 1 to 4, the abdominal girth WL which is part of the personal data of the subject was described to be measured elsewhere and then inputted in through the operation portion 7. Alternatively, the visceral fat determining device may be provided with size measuring means capable of measuring the abdominal girth of the subject.
For example; a measuring tape may be stored in the visceral fat determining device 10 and pulled upward from the measuring surface 3 to measure the abdominal girth WL.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device of the present invention can be configured to obtain amounts of changes between measured results obtained in the past and measured 26 results obtained most recently of the weight and the abdominal i visceral fat area VA. Specifically, measured results of the weight and the abdominal visceral fat area VA are stored for a certain length of time, and amounts of changes between these values of the weight and abdominal visceral fat area VA which were obtained in the past and values of the weight and the abdominal visceral fat area VA which were obtained most recently are obtained through calculation.
Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device can be configured to obtain through calculation a ratio of the amount of the change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA to the amount of the change of the weight (the amount of change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA / the amount of change of the weight) based on the amounts of the changes thus obtained for the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional 16 area VA and the amount of the change of the weight . By obtaining the ratio of the amount of the change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA to the amount of the change of the weight, a rate of the change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA against the change of the weight can be understood. Therefore, based on the rate of the change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA against the change of the weight, health maintenance such as reducing the visceral fat can be adequately managed.
And, in displaying the obtained amounts of the changes on the display portion 8, both the amount of the change of the weight i and the amount of the change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA may be simultaneously displayed. If both the amount of the change of the weight and the amount of the change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA are simultaneously displayed, the relationship between both of the amounts of the changes can be grasped directly from what is displayed on the display portion 8.
While, in the preceding example, an amount of change of the weight and an amount of change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA are used in obtaining an amount of change between a measured result in the past and a measured result obatined most recently, an amount of change of the weight and an amount of change of the visceral fat may also be used. Likewise, in obtaining a ratio between the amounts of the changes, a ratio 16 of the amount of the change of the visceral fat to the amount of the change of the weight (the amount of the change of the visceral fat / the amount of the change of the weight) may also be used.
Furthermore, in the visceral fat determining device 10 of the present invention, obesity can be judged in the following way. Judging standard values for judging obesity are in advance inputted and set in the data processing unit 12 and compared with the above obtained values of the abdominal girth, the BMI, and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA for the 26 judgement.

i ss Fig. 5 shows a set of judging standard values used to judge obesity . In the standard of j udgment shown in Fig . 5, j udging standard values of the BMI, of the abdominal girth, and of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA are defined for male and female subjects.
Specifically, for the male subjects, the judging standard values are set to be 25 for the BMI, 85 cm for the abdomina l girth, and 100 cm2 for the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA. Also, for the female subjects, the judging standard values are set to be 25 for the BMI, 90 cm for the abdominal girth, and 100 cmz for the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
Based on the judging standard values shown in Fig. 5, the following judgments can be made. If a value of the BMI exceeds the judging standard value, it is judged that there is a probability of the subject being suffered from obesity. If a value of the abdominal girth exceeds the judging standard value, it is judged that there is a probability of the subject being suffered from upper body obesity. If a value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA exceeds the judging standard value, it is judged that there is a probability of the subject being suffered from visceral fat obesity.
Furthermore, based on the judging standard values shown in Fig. 5, a judgment can be made through two steps, the first step and the second step. For example, the first step judgment i ss can be based on values of the BMI and the abdominal girth.
Furthermore, the second step judgment can be based on a value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.
And, if both of the values of the BMI and the abdominal 6 girth exceed their standard values, it is judged that there is a probability of the subject being suffered from obesity or upper body obesity. If the value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA also exceeds the standard value, then, it is judged that the subject is suffered from visceral fat obesity. Moreover, based on the combined results from the first and the second steps together, it is judged that the subject is suffered from obesity.
Incidentally, these judged results can be displayed on the display portion 8 so that the subj ect can confirm the results .
16 Furthermore, the visceral fat determining device 10 described thusfar can befurther provided with height measuring means . With this provision, a value of the height necessary for obtaining the BMI is not required to be inputted in through the operation portion 7, thereby shortening the measurement t ime .
[Industrial Applicability]
As has been described thus far, in a visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function of the present invention, 26 weight of a subject serving as a measure for obesity can be i , CA 02387345 2002-04-04 measured and an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA
of the subject can be obtained at home or the like through a simple operation. Specifically, since the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA serving as an index for obesity which is closely associated with adult diseases can be easily measured;
use of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA together with a measured result of the weight will enable to accurately and easily make a comprehensive judgment concerning a possibility of the subject being suffered from various kinds of adult diseases.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data, including an abdominal girth W L, which is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject;
data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates quantitative information on abdominal visceral fat of the subject including an estimated value of an abdominal fat cross-sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data; and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit;
wherein the quantitative information on the abdominal visceral fat of the subject at least one regression coefficient and a regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of a correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross-sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and at least values of the abdominal girth W L
of the human samples; and wherein the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross-sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, the first regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, and the first regression constant.

2. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 1, wherein a height of the subject as the personal data can be inputted through the input means, a body mass index (BMI) can be calculated based on the height and the weight through the data processing unit, and the quantitative information on the abdominal visceral fat or body mass index (BMI) or both classified into a plurality of ranking levels can be displayed on the display portion.

3. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claims 1 or 2, wherein the quantitative information on the abdominal visceral fat includes an amount of the abdominal visceral fat.

4. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to any one of Claims 1-3, further comprising:
body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with feet of the subject as terminals of the subject's body and for calculating a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the body fat ratio FAT obtained by the body fat ratio measuring means is displayed on the display portion.

5. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 1, wherein the abdominal girth W L is a circumferential length of an abdomen at 4th lumbar vertebrae of the subject.

6. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring a weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit stores a first regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L and a first regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of a correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth W L of the human samples and the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, the first regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, and the first regression constant.

7. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 6, wherein the calculation of the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is performed with addition of a correction term of the age and/or a correction term of the sex of the subject.

8. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 6, where in the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is displayed on the display portion in accordance with a plurality of ranking levels which are in advance defined by a plurality of standard values for the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA.

9. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 6, wherein measured results of the weight and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA are stored for a certain length of time and amounts of changes between the stored weight which is a measured result in the past and the weight measured most recently , and between the stored abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA which is a measured result in the past and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA measured most recently can be obtained.

10. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 6, wherein measured results of the weight and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA are stored for a certain length of time, amounts of changes between the stored weight,which is a measured result in the past and the weight measured most recently, and between the stored abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA which is a measured result in the past and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA measured most recently can be obtained, and a ratio of the amount of the change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA to the amount of the change of the weight (the amount of the change of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA / the amount of the change of the weight) can be obtained.

11. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface:

input means for inputting personal data,including an abdominal girth W L,that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject and height of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit stores a second regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, a first regression coefficient of BMI, and a second regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth W L
of the human samples and values of the BMI related to a level of obesity of the human samples and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, a value of the BMI, the second regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, the first regression coefficient of the BMI, and the second regression constant.

12. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 11, wherein a plurality of ranking levels are defined in advance based on a plurality of standard values for the BMI, and the BMI of the subject is displayed on the display portion in accordance with the ranking levels.

13. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 11, wherein a plurality of ranking levels are defined in advance based on a plurality of standard values for the BMI, a plurality of ranking levels are defined in advance based on a plurality of standard values for the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA, the BMI of the subject is displayed on the display portion in accordance with the pre-defined ranking levels, and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is displayed on the display portion in accordance with the pre-defined ranking levels.

14. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 11, wherein a judging standard value is defined in advance for each of the abdominal girth W L, the BMI, and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA and obesity of the subject is judged based on comparison of each of values of the abdominal girth W L, the BMI, and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA with each of the pre-defined judging standard values.

15. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 11, wherein a judging standard value for the BMI is defined in advance to be 25, a judging standard value for the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA is defined in advance to be 100 cm2, a judging standard value for the abdominal girth W L of male subjects is defined in advance to be 85 cm, a judging standard value for the abdominal girth W L of female subjects is defined in advance to be 85 cm, and obesity of the subject is judged based on comparison of each of values of the abdominal girth W L, the BMI, and the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA with each of the pre-defined judging standard value.

16. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data,including an abdominal girth W L,that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, height, sex, and age of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit; and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body and for obtaining a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a third regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, a first regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and a third regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth W L of the human samples and values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, a value of the body fat ratio FAT
obtained with the body fat ratio measuring means, the third regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, the first regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and the third regression constant.

17. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, height, and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject:
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit stores a fourth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, a second regression coefficient of BMI, a first regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s , and a fourth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the BMI related to a level of obesity of the human samples and values of the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the human samples and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, a value of the BMI, a value of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, the fourth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, the second regression coefficient of the BMI, the first regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the fourth regression constant.

18. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;

input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, height, and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit stores a fourth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, a second regression coefficient of BMI, a first regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s , and a fourth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the BMI related to the level of the obesity of the human samples and values of the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the human samples, the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, a value of the BMI, a value of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, the fourth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, the second regression coefficient of the BMI, the first regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the fourth regression constant, and an abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA
of the subject is further obtained based on a value of the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s and a value of the abdominal girth W L.

19. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 18, wherein a ratio of the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA to the abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA, VSR, is further obtained.

20. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 18, wherein a total abdominal fat cross sectional area WA is further obtained based on the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA and the abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA.

21. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, height, sex, age, and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit; and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body and for obtaining a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a fifth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, a second regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, a second regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and a fifth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA
obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth W L of the human samples, values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples, and values of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s and the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, a value of the body fat ratio FAT
obtained with the body fat ratio measuring means, a value of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, the fifth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, the second regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and the second regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the fifth regression constant.

22 . A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, height, sex, age, and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit; and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body and for obtaining a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a fifth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, a second regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, a second regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and a fifth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA
obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth W L of the human samples, values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples, and values of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, the estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, a value of the body fat ratio FAT
obtained with the body fat ratio measuring means, a value of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, the fifth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, the second regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, the second regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the fifth regression constant, and an abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA
of the subject is further obtained based on a value of the thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat s and a value of the abdominal girth W L.

23. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 22, wherein a ratio of the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA to the value of the abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA, VSR, is further obtained.

24. The visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function according to Claim 22, wherein a total abdominal fat cross sectional area WA is further obtained based on the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA and the value of the abdominal subcutaneous fat cross sectional area SA.

25. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject and height of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit stores a first regression coefficient of a first abdominal girth index and a sixth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral tat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the first abdominal girth index obtained by dividing a square of the abdominal girth W L by the height of the subject and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the first abdominal girth index, the first regression coefficient of the first abdominal girth index, and the sixth regression constant.

26. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, height, sex, and age of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with feet of the subject as terminals of the subject's body and for calculating a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a sixth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, a third regression coefficient of BMI, a third regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and a ninth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the BMI of the human samples and values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, a value of the BMI, a value of the body fat ratio FAT, the sixth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, the third regression coefficient of the BMI, the third regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and the ninth regression constant.

27, A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, and a height, sex, age, and a thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
and a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit, and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with feet of the subject as terminals of the subject's body and for calculating a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a seventh regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, a fourth regression coefficient of BMI, a fourth regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, a third regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and a tenth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the BMI of the human samples, values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human samples, and values of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s of the human samples and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, a value of the BMI, a value of the body fat ratio FAT, a value of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, the seventh regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, the fourth regression coefficient of the BMI, the fourth regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, the third regression coefficient of the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat s, and the tenth regression constant.

28. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject and height of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit; and impedance measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body, wherein the data processing unit stores an eighth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, a first regression coefficient of a term (T L2/Z), and an eleventh regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between the actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth W L of the human samples and values of the term (T L2 / Z) of the human samples obtained by dividing a square of the height T L by the body impedance Z and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, a value of the body impedance Z measured with the impedance measuring means, a value of the height T L
obtained through the input means, the eighth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, the first regression coefficient of the term (T L2 / Z), and the eleventh regression constant.

29. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject and height of the subject:
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;

a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit; and impedance measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body, wherein the data processing unit stores a ninth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, a first regression coefficient of the human body impedance Z, and a twelfth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between the actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random samples and values of the abdominal girth W L of the human samples and values of the body impedance Z of the human samples and the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L, a value of the body impedance Z measured with the impedance measuring means, the ninth regression coefficient of the abdominal girth W L, the first regression coefficient of the body impedance Z, and the twelfth regression constant.

30. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for-inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, and a height, sex, and age of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit; and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body and for obtaining a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a first regression coefficient of a term (W L2 .cndot. T L.cndot.age), a first regression coefficient of a term (W L2 .cndot. T L .cndot. FAT) and a thirteenth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between the actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random male samples and values of the term (W L2 .cndot. T L .cndot. age) obtained by multiplying a square of the abdominal girth W L2 of the human male samples, the height T L of the human male samples, and the age of the human male samples and values of the term (W L2 .cndot. T L .cndot. FAT) obtained by multiplying a square of the abdominal girth W L2 of the human male samples, the height T L of the human male samples, and the body fat ratio FAT of the human male samples and when inputted subject's personal data of sex is "male", the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L of the subject, a value of the age of the subject inputted through the input means, a value of the body fat ratio FAT of the subject measured with the body fat ratio measuring means, the first regression coefficient of the term (W L2 .cndot. T L .cndot. age) , the first regression coefficient of the term (W L2 .cndot. T L .cndot. FAT) , and the thirteenth regression constant.

31. A visceral fat determining device with a weight measuring function comprising:
weight measuring means for measuring weight of a subject when the subject stands on a measuring surface;
input means for inputting personal data including an abdominal girth W L that is a circumferential length of a torso of the subject, and a height, weight, sex, and age of the subject;
a data processing unit that stores the personal data and calculates an estimated value of an abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject based on the personal data;
a display portion that displays the personal data and a result of the calculation performed by the data processing unit; and body fat ratio measuring means for measuring a human body impedance Z of the subject through electrodes in contact with terminals of the subject's body and for obtaining a body fat ratio FAT of the subject based on the measured body impedance Z and the inputted personal data or part of the data, wherein the data processing unit stores a second regression coefficient of the term (W L2 .cndot. T L .cndot. age) , a fifth regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and a fourteenth regression constant which are obtained based on statistical analysis of correlation between the actually measured values of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA obtained in abdominal tomography of human bodies of random female samples and values of the term (W L2 .cndot. T L .cndot. age) obtained by multiplying a square of the abdominal girth W L2 of the human female samples, the height T L of the human female samples, and the age of the human female samples and values of the body fat ratio FAT of the human female samples and when inputted subject's personal data of sex is "female", the estimated value of the abdominal visceral fat cross sectional area VA of the subject is obtained based on a value of the abdominal girth W L of the subject, a value of the age of the subject inputted through the input means, a value the body fat ratio FAT of the subject measured with the body fat ratio measuring means, the second regression coefficient of the term (W L2 .cndot.T L .cndot. age), the fifth regression coefficient of the body fat ratio FAT, and the fourteenth regression constant.