Abstract:
Disclosed is a visceral fat estimation apparatus, comprising: an input device; an estimation device; a target calorie intake determination device; a calorie consumption determination device; an allowable calorie intake update device; and a calorie consumption update device. According to the present invention said input device enters at least height, body weight and body fat rate of a person to be measured, and said estimation device estimates a visceral fat area based on the input value entered by said input device. Furthermore, said target calorie intake determination device determines a target calorie intake for a day, and said calorie consumption determination device determines a calorie to be consumed due to an exercise for a day. Said allowable calorie intake update device updates an allowable calorie intake for a day, and said calorie consumption update device updates a calorie to be consumed due to an exercise for a day.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a visceral fat estimation apparatus for estimating a visceral fat of a person to be measured.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    Various types of apparatus for measuring a body fat of a person that is considered as the cause of adiposity have been known in the art. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-49050 discloses a body fat weight meter in which a personal data such as sex, height and age is entered and measurement of body weight and impedance between extreme parts of the body is performed for estimating the weight of fat tissue in a whole body. Also known in the art is an MRI apparatus or an X-ray CT apparatus in which a tomogram of an abdomen (or a navel region) of the body is taken and an analysis of the picture is performed to derive a subcutaneous fat area or a visceral fat area.  
           [0005]    Furthermore, several types of calorie calculators for promptly calculating calorie intake and calorie consumption due to an exercise have been proposed for the purpose of curing any adiposity.  
           [0006]    In this connection the adiposity is divided into two types: subcutaneous fat type and visceral fat type. Recently it becomes more important to know the amount of visceral fat due to the fact that it greatly contributes to onset of adult noncomminicable disease. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether the adiposity is of subcutaneous fat type or of visceral fat type.  
           [0007]    Unfortunately the prior art apparatus as described above are defective in the following point of view: The body fat weight meter provides the body fat mass and body fat rate only in a whole body. The MRI and X-ray CT apparatus are expensive in cost. In addition, an expert person is necessary for positioning a person to be measured so that he lies facing upward and keeps such posture during the period of measurement. Accordingly, the person to be measured can&#39;t operate the apparatus by himself, which means that the apparatus is not suitable for home use. Furthermore, the apparatus is bulky and cumbersome in handling. It takes longer period of time for measurement. In particular, during the measurement using the X-ray CT apparatus, the person to be measured may be subjected to exposure of radiation that is lower in dose, not substantially affected to the health. Therefore, the person is not mentally willing to have the measurement using the X-ray. Moreover, any repetition of several times of such measurement is not allowable because of accumulation in dose of exposure of radiation.  
           [0008]    On the other hand, the calorie calculator in the prior art has capability of simply calculating the calorie value, but has nothing associated with the body fat meter. In order to cure any adiposity it is highly desire to have some function of associating the calorie control with the visceral fat meter in such manner that the current value of visceral fat area or body fat rate can be measured; if it falls within the region of adiposity then the target value of visceral fat area or body fat rate can be set; and the further target value of calorie intake and calorie consumption to attain said target value can be set. There are some apparatus available in the market having capability of setting the target value of body fat rate and calorie consumption, but none of them provide function of additionally setting the target value of calorie intake and visceral fat area.  
           [0009]    In view of the above an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for estimating visceral fat in which measurement of visceral fat can easily be made; if it falls within the region of adiposity then the target value of visceral fat area can be set; and the calorie intake and the calorie consumption can be controlled to attain said target value.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a visceral fat estimation apparatus, comprising: an input device; an estimation device; a target calorie intake determination device; a calorie consumption determination device; an allowable calorie intake update device; and a calorie consumption update device, wherein said input device enters at least height, body weight and body fat rate of a person to be measured; said estimation device estimates a visceral fat area based on the input value entered by said input device; said target calorie intake determination device determines a target calorie intake for a day; said calorie consumption determination device determines a calorie to be consumed due to an exercise for a day; said allowable calorie intake update device updates an allowable calorie intake for a day; and said calorie consumption update device updates a calorie to be consumed due to an exercise for a day.  
           [0011]    According to one embodiment of the present invention said input device for entering the height is a height meter.  
           [0012]    According to another embodiment of the present invention said input device for entering the height is a keying device that manually enters the height.  
           [0013]    According to further embodiment of the present invention said input device for entering the body weight is a weight sensor.  
           [0014]    According to yet further embodiment of the present invention said input device for entering the body weight is a keying device that manually enters the body weight.  
           [0015]    According to yet further embodiment of the present invention said input device for entering the body fat rate is a body fat meter.  
           [0016]    According to yet further embodiment of the present invention said input device for entering the body fat rate is a keying device that manually enters the body fat rate.  
           [0017]    According to yet further embodiment of the present invention said calorie consumption determination device determines the calorie to be consumed due to an exercise for a day based on any one of the target values for visceral fat area, body fat rate and body weight and on the time period during which the target value is to be attained.  
           [0018]    According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a visceral fat estimation apparatus, comprising: an input device; an estimation device; a target selection and assignment device; a calorie determination device; a calorie intake determination device; a calorie consumption determination device; a total calorie calculation device; and a display device, wherein said input device enters at least height, body weight and body fat rate of a person to be measured; said estimation device estimates a visceral fat area based on the input value entered by said input device; said target selection and assignment device selects any one of at least visceral fat area, body fat rate and body weight as a subject for reduction and assigns the target value for the selected subject; said calorie determination device determines the calorie value to be consumed for a day based on the estimated visceral fat area, the selected subject and the assigned target value; said calorie intake determination device determines the calorie intake based on the name of food that has been eaten and an amount of intake of the food; said calorie consumption determination device determines the calorie consumption based on the name of exercise that has been done and a time period during which the exercise has been done; said total calorie calculation device calculates the total calorie based on the calorie intake, the calorie consumption and the basal metabolism for the person; and said display device displays an advice message based on the calculated total calorie. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    Now, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a visceral fat estimation apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical circuit configuration of the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a main program routine for the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a measurement routine for the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a setting routine for the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a graphic display routine for the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a calorie intake calculation routine for the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a calorie consumption processing routine for the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a comment processing routine for the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 10A and 10B show one example of display of input and output values in the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11 shows one example of display of target for diet in the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 12A and 12B graphically show visceral fat area in the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 13A and 13B show one example of display of food name and amount of intake for that food;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 14 shows one example of display of calorie consumption due to exercise;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 15A and 15B show one example of display of comment;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 16A to  16 F show another example of display of comment; and  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus including a bioelectrical impedance measurement section separated from the apparatus in FIG. 1; and a body weight measurement section. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0037]    [0037]FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a visceral fat estimation apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical circuit configuration of the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1. The visceral fat estimation apparatus  41  according to this embodiment comprises: current supplying electrodes  42   a ,  42   b  for forming a current path in a living body; voltage detection electrodes  43   a ,  43   b  for detecting potential difference across the living body; “↑” key  45 U, “↓” key  45 D, “→” key  45 R and “←” key  45 L all for altering the numerical value; a return key  46  for returning to the previous value; a decision key  47  for proceeding to the next item; a measurement key  48  for effecting measurement; a set key  49  for setting the target value of visceral fat area, etc.; a graph key  50  for graphically showing any daily change in measurement result and arithmetic result; an intake key  51  for setting the condition under which the calorie intake is calculated; a consumption key  52  for setting the condition under which the calorie consumption is calculated; a comment key  53  for calculating an allowable calorie intake and the calorie to be consumed due to an exercise for that day; and a display section  44  for displaying the setting condition and the calculation result.  
         [0039]    The current supplying electrodes  42   a ,  42   b  are positioned on an upper surface of the visceral fat estimation apparatus, and the voltage detection electrodes  43   a ,  43   b  are positioned on side surfaces of the apparatus. When the measurement is performed a thumb finger of a left hand of a person to be measured is contact with the current supplying electrode  42   a , and a thumb finger of a right hand of the person is contact with the current supplying electrode  42   b . Furthermore, a palm of the left hand is contact with the voltage detection electrode  43   a , and a palm of the right hand is contact with the voltage detection electrode  43   b.    
         [0040]    The apparatus  41  further has an electronic circuit board  60  mounted therein. On the circuit board  60  there are mounted the following components: the display section  44 ; a radio frequency (RF) constant current circuit  67  for supplying a weak RF constant current to the current supplying electrodes  42   a ,  42   b ; a voltage measurement circuit  68  for detecting a potential difference for the living body across the voltage detection electrodes  43   a ,  43   b ; an A/D converter circuit  69  for converting an analogue signal from the voltage measurement circuit  68  into a digital signal; a clock  66 ; a memory  65  for storing the setting condition and the calculation result, etc.; and a CPU  64  for processing the control and arithmetic operation of body fat rate and visceral fat area based on the measurement condition and the living body impedance measurement data.  
         [0041]    Next, measurement operation for estimating the visceral fat according to the embodiment will be summarized. First of all, when a battery is installed, setting of the current date and time is requested. The setting is done to initialize the clock  66 . FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a main program routine for the visceral fat estimation apparatus in FIG. 1. At first step S 31  a check is made to determine whether any one of the keys is depressed. If not, the routine returns to step S 31 . But, if so, the power supply is turned ON. Then, at step S 32  it is determined whether the measurement key  48  is depressed or not. If so, the measurement is performed in step S 33 , and the routine returns to step S 31 . At step S 34  it is determined whether the set key  49  is depressed or not. If so, the setting is performed in step S 35 , and the routine returns to step S 31 . At step S 36  it is determined whether the graph key  50  is depressed or not. If so, the graph process is performed in step S 37 , and the routine returns to step S 31 . At step S 38  it is determined whether the intake key  51  is depressed or not. If so, the intake process is performed in step S 39 , and the routine returns to step S 31 . At step S 40  it is determined whether the consumption key  52  is depressed or not. If so, the consumption process is performed in step S 41 , and the routine returns to step S 31 . At step S 42  it is determined whether the comment key  53  is depressed or not. If so, the comment process is performed in step S 43 , and the routine returns to step S 31 .  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a measurement routine when the measurement key  48  is depressed. At step S 61  a check is made to determine whether registration of a person to be measured has been done. If so, the routine proceeds to step S 82 . At step S 62  the display section  44  flashes man and woman marks. At step S 63  it is determined whether any one of “↑” key  45 U or “↓” key  45 D is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 65 . At step S 64  a man or a woman is selected. At step S 65  it is determined whether the decision key  47  is depressed or not. If not, the routine returns to step S 63 .  
         [0043]    At step S 66  the display section  44  flashes “Height “H”=160 cm”. At step S 67  it is determined whether any one of “↑” key  45 U or “↓” key  45 D is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 69 . If “↑” key  45 U is depressed in step S 68  then “H” is increased by one. But, if “↓” key  45 D is depressed then “H” is decreased by one. The routine returns to step S 67 . If the decision key  47  is not depressed in step S 69  then the routine returns to step S 67 . At steps S 70  to S 81  setting of the age “Age”, the waist size “W” and the body weight “M” is performed in the same manner as that of the height. Thereafter, the routine proceeds to step S 96 .  
         [0044]    At step S 82  the sex, height “H”, age “Age” and waist size “W” of the registered personal data are displayed on the display section  44 , as shown in FIG. 10A. The body weight “M” is flashed. At step S 83  it is determined whether the decision key  47  is depressed or not. If so, the routine proceeds to step S 96 . At step S 84  it is determined whether any one of “↑” key  45 U or “↓” key  45 D is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 86 . If the “↑” key  45 U is depressed then “M” is increased by one in step S 85 . But, if the “↓” key  45 D is depressed then “M” is decreased by one. The routine returns to step S 84 . If the decision key  47  is depressed in step S 86  then the routine proceeds to step S 96 . If the “←” key  45 L or the return key  46  is not depressed in step S 87  then the routine returns to step S 84 . At steps S 88  to S 95  setting of the waist size “W” and the body weight “M” is performed in the same manner as above.  
         [0045]    At step S 96  measurement of the impedance is performed. The left thumb finger of the person to be measured is contact with the current supplying electrode  42   a , the right thumb finger is contact with the current supplying electrode  42   b , the left palm is contact with the voltage detection electrode  43   a , and the right palm is contact with the voltage detection electrode  43   b . When measurement is started the RF constant current circuit  67  produces a weak RF constant current output “I”. This current output is applied to the person to be measured via the current supplying electrodes  42   a ,  42   b . The current flowing through the body of the person at this time is detected by the voltage measurement circuit  68  as the living body potential difference between the voltage detection electrodes  43   a ,  43   b . This analog output signal is converted into the digital signal “V” in the A/D converter circuit  69 . Then, the impedance is calculated by the formula “voltage V÷current I”.  
         [0046]    At step S 97  the body fat rate and the visceral fat area “Y” are calculated and displayed on the display section  44 , as shown in FIG. 10B. It is well known that the body fat rate for a whole body is derived from the impedance between both hands according to the correlation formula. A multiple regression analysis is applied with an objective variable of “Y” and descriptive variables of height “H”, body weight “M” and waist size “W” to produce a regression formula that is stored in the memory  65  in advance and is used to derive a visceral fat area “Y 1 ” as follows:  
           Y   1   =C   1 ×height“ H”+C   2 ×body weight“ M”+C   3 ×waist size“ W”+C   4 ×body fat mass“ F”+C   5   (1)  
         [0047]    The age may additionally be included as follows:  
           Y   2   =C   21 ×height“H”+C 22 ×body weight“M”+C 23 ×waist size“W”+C 24 ×body fat mass“F”+C 25 ×age“Age”+C 26   (2)  
         [0048]    Alternatively, the waist size “W” may be omitted, but instead, the body mass index “BMI” may be included as follows:  
           Y   3   =C   31   ×“BMI”+C   32 ×body fat mass“ F”+C   33   (3)  
         [0049]    Where “BMI”=body weight (kg)÷height (m)÷height (m).  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a setting routine when the set key  49  is depressed. Here, either one of visceral fat area, body weight or body fat rate is selected as the target parameter for diet and setting of the target value is performed. Initially, before the set key  49  is depressed, it is determined whether the measurement key has been depressed and the measurement process has been done. If not, a message “depress the measurement key and perform the measurement process” is displayed on the display section  44 , and the sub-routine is ended. At step S 101  the target value of visceral fat area Y=100 cm 2  is displayed on the display section  44 , as shown in FIG. 11. At step S 102  it is determined whether any one of “↑” key  45 U or “↓” key  45 D is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 104 . If the “↑” key  45 U is depressed in step S 102  then “H” is increased by one. But, if the “↓” key  45 D is depressed then “H” is decreased by one. The routine returns to step S 102 .  
         [0051]    At step S 104  it is determined whether the decision key  47  is depressed or not. If so, the routine proceeds to step S 107 . At step S 105  it is determined whether any one of “←” key  45 L or “→” key  45 R is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 102 . At step S 106  either one of the body weight or the body fat rate is selected as the target parameter. The routine proceeds to step S 102 .  
         [0052]    At step S 107  the time period during which the target value is to be attained is displayed on the display section  44  as “P=30 days”. At step S 108  it is determined whether any one of “↑” key  45 U or “↓” key  45 D is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 110 . If the “↑” key  45 U is depressed then “H” is increased by one in step S 109 . But, if the “↓” key  45 D is depressed then “H” is decreased by one. The routine returns to step S 108 . At step S 110  it is determined whether the decision key  47  is depressed or not. If not, the routine returns to step S 108 .  
         [0053]    At step S 111  the total calorie to be consumed in order to attain the target value for visceral fat area, body fat rate or body weight is calculated. The body fat mass to be reduced is calculated from the visceral fat area to be reduced. The body fat mass to be reduced is also calculated from the body fat rate to be reduced. The body fat mass is additionally calculated from the body fat rate and the body weight to be reduced. There is a uniquely defined relationship between the body fat rate to be reduced and the calorie to be consumed, which relationship is used to derive the total calorie to be consumed due to an exercise. Then, based on this total calorie and the target time period “P”, the calorie to be consumed due to an exercise for a day is calculated. Thereafter, an initial setting of the variable (or calorie to be consumed due to an exercise) is performed using the following formula:  
         [0054]    (Calorie to be consumed due to an exercise)=(Calorie to be consumed due to an exercise for a day)  
         [0055]    At step S 112  basal metabolism is calculated. Because the basal metabolism is proportional to fat free mass it can be calculated from the fat free mass and the personal parameter. By its definition the fat free mass is calculated using the formula “body weight×(1−body fat rate)”. Then, the initial value of target calorie intake is calculated. In this embodiment the ideal calorie intake is used as the initial value. The ideal calorie intake can be derived from the energy requirement per body weight. In this connection it has been known that the energy requirement per body weight is determined based on intensity in living activity, age and sex of a person to be measured.  
         [0056]    At step S 113  the initial value of target calorie intake calculated in the previous step is displayed on the display section  44 . At step S 114  it is determined whether any one of “↑” key  45 U or “↓” key  45 D is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 116 . If the “↑” key  45 U is depressed then the target calorie intake is increased by one in step S 115 . This slightly higher calorie setting is to be attained mainly by calorie consumption as the result of an exercise. But, if the “↓” key  45 D is depressed then the target calorie intake is decreased by one. This slightly lower calorie setting is to be attained mainly by a diet. At step S 116  it is determined whether the decision key  47  is depressed or not. If not, the routine returns to step S 114 . At step S 117  the target calorie intake is set as the initial value of the variable (allowable calorie intake) and is displayed on the display section  44 . Thereafter, if no key is depressed within the predetermined period, the power supply is automatically turned OFF.  
         [0057]    Basically, in this apparatus, the target calorie intake is never set at the value lower than the ideal calorie intake. The reason for which is as follows: If it is attempted to reduce the body fat simply by the diet then not only the fat but also the muscle and the bone would be reduced. Reduction of muscle causes reduction of basal metabolism of the whole body, and as the result, the body weight becomes difficult to reduce so that even slight overeating makes to grow fat. However, the present apparatus has additional capability of adjusting the target calorie intake for the sake of a person who wants to reduce the target calorie intake irrespective of taking into account of such fact.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a graphic display routine when the graph key  50  is depressed. The routine produces a graph showing any daily change in visceral fat area, body weight and body fat rate. When the graph key  50  is depressed the display section  44  displays a screen as shown in FIG. 12A in step S 121 . The display “visceral fat area” is underlined. At step S 122  it is determined whether any one of “↑” key  45 U or “↓” key  45 D is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 124 . If the “↓” key  45 D is depressed then the underline is downwardly moved in position in step S 123 . That is to say, the display “body weight” is underlined. If the “↓” key  45 D is depressed once again then the underline is further downwardly moved in position so that the display “body fat rate” is underlined. Inversely, if the “↑” key  45 U is depressed the underline is upwardly moved in position.  
         [0059]    At step S 124  it is determined whether the decision key  47  is depressed. If not, the routine returns to step S 122 . At step S 125  the daily change for the underlined item is graphically displayed. The screen as shown in FIG. 12B shows the case where the underlined item is visceral fat area. At step S 126  it is determined whether the “←” key  45 L is depressed. If not, the routine returns to step S 126 . At step S 127  the data displayed is replaced with the previous data that has been displayed just before. The routine returns to step S 125 .  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an intake process routine when the intake key  51  is depressed. The routine calculates the calorie intake given by some food selected. When the intake key  51  is depressed then a systematic table of Japanese fifty sounds is displayed on the display section  44  to select the food, as shown in FIG. 13A, at step S 131 . An underlined row of characters is selected. In the case as shown in FIG. 13 a row beginning with a character “         ” is selected. At step S 132  it is determined whether any one of the “↑” key  45 U, “↓” key  45 D, “→” key  45 R or “←” key  45 L is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 134 . But, if so, the underline is moved in upward, downward, right-hand or left-hand direction by one position. The routine returns to step S 131 .  
         [0061]    At step S 134  it is determined whether the decision key  47  is depressed or not. If not, the routine returns to step S 131 . At step S 135  the food name whose first character is one that is selected is displayed, as shown in FIG. 13B. In this example a character “         ” is selected, and as the result, the food name “         (noodle in soup)” that begins with “         ” selected is displayed with the underline. At step S 136  it is determined whether the “↓” key  45 D is depressed or not. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 138 . At step S 137  the underline is moved in downward direction by one position. The routine returns to step S 135 . At step S 136  an additional decision may arbitrarily be performed to determine whether the “↑” key  45 U is depressed. In this case it is possible to correct the position of the underline if the “↓” key  45 D is depressed too many.  
         [0062]    At step S 138  it is determined whether the decision key  47  is depressed. If not, the routine returns to step S 135 . At step S 139  it is determined whether the “↑” key  45 U or “↓” key  45 D is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 141 . But, if the “↑” key  45 U is depressed, the amount of intake (%) displayed at lower left position of the screen of the display  44  is increased to “110%”, for example, at step S 140 . Instead, if the “↓” key  45 D is depressed, it is decreased to “90%”, for example. For the food that is selected at step S 137 , the calorie intake corresponding to the amount of intake as assigned at step S 140  is calculated and the result is displayed at lower right position of the screen of the display  44 . In this connection, it is assumed that a list representing the relationship between each of the foods and the corresponding calorie value per a food unit (100%) is stored in the memory  65  in advance. In this example, as shown in FIG. 13B, a bowlful of “         (noodle in soup)” (100%) is stored in the memory  65 , together with the corresponding value of “302 kcal”. Then the routine returns to step S 139 .  
         [0063]    At step S 141  it is determined whether the decision key  47  is depressed. If not, the routine returns to step S 139 . At step S 142  the finally determined calorie intake is added to the value of calorie intake variable stored in the memory  65 . Then, the remaining allowable calorie intake is updated according to the following formula:  
         [0064]    (Remaining allowable calorie intake)=(Total allowable calorie intake)−(Actual calorie intake)  
         [0065]    The routine returns to step S 131  for displaying a systematic table of Japanese fifty sounds.  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a consumption processing routine if consumption key  52  is depressed. This routine calculates the calorie consumption due to an exercise assigned. If the consumption key  52  is depressed the exercise items are sequentially displayed in the order of Japanese fifty sounds on the display  44 , at step S 151 , as shown in FIG. 14. The exercise items selected is indicated by an underline. At step S 152  it is determined whether the “↑” key  45 U or “↓” key  45 D is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 154 . But, if the “↑” key  45 U is depressed, the underline is moved upwardly by one position in step S 153 . Instead, if the “↓” key  45 D is depressed, the underline is moved downwardly by one position. The routine returns to step S 151 .  
         [0067]    At step S 154  it is determined whether the decision key  47  is depressed. If not, the routine returns to step S 151 . At step S 155  it is determined whether the “↑” key  45 U or “↓” key  45 D is depressed. If not, the routine proceeds to step S 157 . If the “↑” key  45 U is depressed the time duration of exercise displayed at lower left of the screen of the display  44  is increased, at step S 156 . But, if the “↓” key  45 D is depressed, it is decreased. The calorie to be consumed due to the exercise selected at step S 153  during the time duration assigned at step S 156  is calculated and the result is displayed at lower right of the screen of the display  44 . In this connection it is assumed that a list representing the relationship between each of the exercise items and the corresponding calorie consumption per one min. of exercise and per 1 kg of body weight is stored in the memory  65  in advance. In the example of FIG. 14, a “jogging (normal speed)” is stored in the memory  65 , together with the corresponding calorie consumption of “0.117 kcal/kg/min.” In view of the body weight of the person to be measured, as shown in FIG. 10A, the calorie consumption due to the exercise during 10 min. is calculated to be 74.2 kcal. Then, the routine returns to step S 155 .  
         [0068]    At step S 157  it is determined whether the decision key  47  is depressed. If not, the routine returns to step S 155 . At step S 158  the finally determined calorie consumption is added to the value of calorie consumption variable stored in the memory  65 . Then, the remaining calorie consumption is updated according to the following formula:  
         [0069]    (Remaining calorie consumption)=(Total calorie consumption)−(Actual calorie consumption)  
         [0070]    Then, the routine returns to step S 151 .  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a comment processing routine if a comment key  53  is depressed. The data including the remaining allowable calorie intake and the remaining calorie consumption due to exercise for that day after the time that the comment key  53  is depressed is displayed on the display section  44 . In addition, the total calorie value for the preceding day and some message such as “Lack of exercise” are also displayed. Initially, before depression of the comment key  53 , it is determined whether the measurement key has been depressed for measurement process. If not, the message “Depress the measurement key for measurement process” is displayed on the display section  44 . Then, the subroutine is terminated.  
         [0072]    At step S 161  the remaining allowable calorie intake and the remaining calorie consumption due to exercise after the current time is displayed on the display section  44 , as shown in FIG. 15A.  
         [0073]    At step S 162  it is determined whether the “←” key  45 L is depressed. If not, the routine returns to step S 161 . At step S 163  the total calorie for the preceding day and some message is displayed. The total calorie for the preceding day is calculated by the following formula:  
         [0074]    (Total calorie for preceding day)=(Calorie intake for preceding day)−(Calorie consumption due to exercise for preceding day)−(Basal metabolism)  
         [0075]    Where the basal metabolism is one that is calculated at step  112  in the flow chart of FIG. 5.  
         [0076]    Examples of the comment according to the total calorie thus obtained are shown in FIG. 15B and FIGS. 16A to  16 F. If the total calorie has a positive value the message “Lack of exercise” is displayed; if it has zero or a negative smaller value the message “Continue exercise at the same level” is displayed; or if it has a negative larger value the message “Inadequate intake” is displayed. In view of the intake process described with reference to FIG. 7 and the consumption process described with reference to FIG. 8, the person to be measured can understand the relationship between the amount of intake of food and the corresponding calorie intake, and the relationship between the degree of exercise and the corresponding calorie consumption. Therefore, by displaying the total calorie and the comment, the person to be measured can easily know the target value for amount of intake of food and for degree of exercise that he should increase. Furthermore, an amount in decrease of visceral fat area is also displayed, as shown in FIG. 15B. In this case the negative value means that the visceral fat area has been increased. The amount in decrease of visceral fat area is one that is calculated based on the total calorie. By this display the person to be measured can know the relationship between the total calorie and the visceral fat area. That is to say, the person to be measured can know how much amount the visceral fat area he can decrease by how much degree the exercise he does.  
         [0077]    At step S 164  it is determined whether the “←” key  45 L is depressed. If not, the routine returns to step S 164 . At step S 165  the calorie intake and the calorie consumption for a preceding day is retrieved from the memory  65 . The routine returns to step S 163 .  
         [0078]    If, before depression of the comment key  53 , the setting key  49  has not been depressed, and therefore, the target values for visceral fat area, etc. have not been set, then, before step S 161 , the target value for visceral fat area is set at some standard value and the target time period is set at some reasonable and standard diet time period, and thereafter, the data including the total calorie consumption, the calorie consumption per a day, the basal metabolism, the target calorie intake and the target calorie consumption is calculated, as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0079]    In the process as described above, if there is no key input within the predetermined time period, the power supply is automatically turned OFF.  
         [0080]    In the embodiment as described above, the personal data of height, age, etc. can be registered only for one person. In another embodiment, however, the personal data for plural persons may be registered by providing a plurality of keys each for each person. More particularly, when a personal data for a person is entered the corresponding personal key is depressed and the personal data is stored in an area within the memory corresponding to that person. Thereafter, when it is desired to utilize the data for that person, it is retrieved from the area within the memory simply by depressing the personal key for that person.  
         [0081]    In the embodiment as described above, the height data has been manually entered via the key device. But, some height measurement device may be included in order to automatically enter the height data. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the body fat rate has been calculated based on the measurement of bioelectrical impedance. However, it may manually be entered, as in the case of the height data that has been manually entered via the key device.  
         [0082]    Moreover, in the above embodiment, the body weight of a person has been manually entered via the key device. However, the apparatus in FIG. 1 may be modified to automatically enter the body weight by connecting a body weight measurement device  101  as shown in FIG. 17 with the apparatus in FIG. 1 by means of a wireless communication using infrared ray or electromagnetic wave or of an electrical cable. In particular, referring to FIG. 17, the body weight measurement device  101  includes: current supplying electrodes  103   a ,  103   b  and voltage measurement electrodes  104   a ,  104   b ; a current supplying circuit within a measurement platform  102  for passing lower constant current between the current supplying electrodes  103   a ,  103   b ; a voltage measurement circuit for measuring the voltage across the voltage measurement electrodes  104   a ,  104   b ; and an arithmetic circuit for calculating bioelectrical impedance between both feet of the person depending on the constant current and the voltage, which enables to derive the visceral fat area or the body fat rate from the bioelectrical impedance calculated. In this case the electrodes  42   a ,  42   b ,  43   a ,  43   b  for measuring the bioelectrical impedance between both hands of the person in FIG. 1 may be omitted. The CPU  64  in FIG. 2 calculates the visceral fat area or the body fat rate based on the bioelectrical impedance measured by the body weight measurement device  101 .  
         [0083]    Further referring to FIG. 17, the body weight measurement device  101  also includes: a set key  106  for setting the personal data such as height, age, sex, etc.; an UP key  105   a  for increasing the numerical value; a DOWN key  105   b  for decreasing the numerical value; personal keys  107   a  to  107   e  for registering or reading out the personal data; and a display section  109  for displaying the set conditions, measurement results or evaluation results. Therefore, the body weight measurement device  101  can act alone as the visceral fat estimation device without the visceral fat estimation apparatus  41 . If there is no need of such usage of the body weight measurement device  101  those components may, of course, be omitted.  
         [0084]    The visceral fat estimation apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiment as above, but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.  
         [0085]    It is apparent from the foregoing that a visceral fat estimation apparatus according to the present invention can determine the calorie to be consumed for a day due to an exercise, based on any one of targets for visceral fat area, body fat rate and body weight, and a time period during which the target is to be attained, whereby if a person to be measured falls within the region of adiposity then the target value of visceral fat area can be set, and the calorie intake and the calorie consumption can be controlled to attain said target value.