Abstract:
Disclosed is a device for providing body consumption information of a woman, comprises: a basic body data acquisition unit for acquiring basic body data relating to consumption in the body; a number-of-days-after-menstruation acquisition unit for acquiring the number of days that have elapsed since a menstruation start day; a body transition term data storage unit for storing the body transition term data that is formed by correlation of woman&#39;s physiological body transition terms with the number of days after menstruation; a body consumption information calculation formula storage unit for storing an calculation formula for getting information about consumption in the body, taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition term; a body transition term selection unit for selecting a woman&#39;s physiological body transition term corresponding to the number of days after menstruation acquired by the acquisition unit on the basis of the body transition term data stored in the storage unit; a body consumption information calculation unit for calculating information about consumption in the body, taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition terms, by substituting the basic body data acquired by the acquisition unit for the calculation formula retrieved from the storage unit according to the woman&#39;s physiological body transition term selected by the body transition term selection unit; and a body consumption information display unit for displaying the body information, taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition term, calculated by the body consumption information calculation unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a device for providing body consumption information of a woman.  
         [0003]     2. Prior Art  
         [0004]     A device for providing body consumption information such as basal metabolism, energy consumption due to exercise, total energy consumption, etc. has been known in the art. Examples of such device are: a calorie consumption meter for providing calorie consumption (or energy consumption due to exercise) based on pulse rate of a person during exercise (see Patent Document 1); a burned fat mass calculation device for providing burned fat mass based on calorie consumption (or energy consumption due to exercise) (see Patent Document 2); and the like. Those devices are effective in that calorie consumption (or energy consumption due to exercise) and total burned fat mass can simply be provided.  
         [0005]     On the other hand, as the result of search and examination conducted by the present inventor it was found that the body consumption information of a woman may be changed with physiological body transition even if the condition for causing consumption in the body (e.g. age, body weight, and other body features, as well as intensity of exercise) is kept same.  
         [0006]     The patent documents associated with the present invention are as follows: 
        Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-52119; and     Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-316833.        
 
         [0009]     Although the previous calorie consumption meter and the burned fat mass calculation device are effective in that calorie consumption and total burned fat mass can simply be get, as described above, they have deficiency in the following point of view. That is to say, these previous devices may not necessarily provide precise or sufficient body consumption information if they are used by women because of no conditions specific for women taken into account.  
         [0010]     In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for providing body consumption information, which is capable of producing highly precise body consumption information by taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition terms.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     In order to attain such object the present invention provides a device for providing body consumption information of a woman, comprising: a basic body data acquisition unit; a number-of-days-after-menstruation acquisition unit; a body transition term data storage unit; a body consumption information calculation formula storage unit; a body transition term selection unit; a body consumption information calculation unit; and a body consumption information display unit, wherein 
        said basic body data acquisition unit acquires basic body data relating to consumption in the body,     said number-of-days-after-menstruation acquisition unit acquires the number of days that have elapsed since a menstruation start day,     said body transition term data storage unit stores, in advance, the body transition term data that is formed by correlation of woman&#39;s physiological body transition terms with the number of days after menstruation,     said body consumption information calculation formula storage unit stores, in advance, an calculation formula for getting information about consumption in the body, taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition term, for each of the body transition terms,     said body transition term selection unit selects a woman&#39;s physiological body transition term corresponding to the number of days after menstruation acquired by said number-of-days-after-menstruation acquisition unit on the basis of the body transition term data stored in said body transition term data storage unit,     said body consumption information calculation unit calculates information about consumption in the body, taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition terms, by substituting the basic body data relating to body information acquired by said basic body data acquisition unit for the calculation formula retrieved from said body consumption information calculation formula storage unit according to the woman&#39;s physiological body transition term selected by said body transition term selection unit, and     said body consumption information display unit displays the body information, taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition term, calculated by said body consumption information calculation unit.        
 
         [0019]     According to an embodiment of the present invention the device for providing body consumption information of a woman further comprises: a target basic data acquisition unit; a target information calculation formula storage unit; a target information calculation unit; and a target information display unit, wherein 
        said target basic data acquisition unit acquires a target basic data relating to consumption in the body,     said target information calculation formula storage unit stores, in advance, an calculation formula for providing target information, taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition term, for each of body transition terms,     said target information calculation unit calculates target information, taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition term, by substituting the target basic data relating to consumption in the body acquired by said target basic data acquisition unit for the calculation formula retrieved from said target information calculation formula storage unit according to the woman&#39;s physiological body transition term selected by said body transition term selection unit, and     said target information display unit displays the target information, taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition term, calculated by said target information calculation unit.        
 
         [0024]     According to another embodiment of the present invention the device for providing body consumption information of a woman further comprises an advice information display unit, said advice information display unit displays advice information for consumption in the body, together with the body consumption information calculated by said body consumption information calculation unit in comparison with the target information calculated by said target information calculation unit.  
         [0025]     According to further embodiment of the present invention the device for providing body consumption information of a woman further comprises an intensity-of-exercise measurement unit for measuring how much an exercise has been done, said body consumption information calculation unit calculates the body consumption information, taking into account of the intensity of exercise measured by said intensity-of-exercise measurement unit.  
         [0026]     According to yet further embodiment of the present invention the device for providing body consumption information of a woman further comprises a time-of-exercise measurement unit for measuring how long an exercise has been done, said body consumption information calculation unit calculates the body consumption information, taking into account of the time duration of exercise measured by said time-of-exercise measurement unit.  
         [0027]     According to yet further embodiment of the present invention said intensity of exercise is represented by the number of steps.  
         [0028]     According to yet further embodiment of the present invention said time duration of exercise is represented by the walking time.  
         [0029]     According to yet further embodiment of the present invention the device for providing body consumption information of a woman further comprises: a pulse rate measurement unit; and a pitch guide tone generator unit, wherein 
        said pulse rate measurement unit measures a pulse rate of a woman under test, and     said pitch guide tone generator unit generates pitch guide tone for prompting the woman under test to walk at pulse rate of fixed and safety range according to the pulse rate measured by said pulse rate measurement unit.        
 
         [0032]     According to yet further embodiment of the present invention said number-of-days-after-menstruation acquisition unit comprises an input section and a clock section, said input unit enters the previous menstruation date and the current date, and said clock section calculates the number of days after menstruation, which means the number of days elapsed from the previous menstruation date to the current date, depending on the previous menstruation date and the current date entered by said input unit.  
         [0033]     According to yet further embodiment of the present invention said body transition term includes follicular phase and luteal phase.  
         [0034]     According to yet further embodiment of the present invention said body transition term includes menstruation term, diet term, before-and-after ovulation term, PMS prevention term, and PMS term.  
         [0035]     According to yet further embodiment of the present invention said body consumption information includes at least one of the followings: basal metabolism, energy consumption due to exercise, total energy consumption, fat mass burned due to exercise, and total burned fat mass.  
         [0036]     According to yet further embodiment of the present invention said target information includes target number of steps.  
         [0037]     The device for providing body consumption information of a woman according to the present invention provides body consumption information by taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition terms, and therefore, it can provide highly precise body consumption information for a woman, which is effective in control of body consumption or in health care.  
         [0038]     In addition, the device for providing body consumption information of a woman according to the present invention provides target information by taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition terms, and it provides advice information with respect to the target information, which is effective in continuation of more proper health care. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0039]     Now, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0040]      FIG. 1  is a schematic external view of a device for providing body consumption information of a woman according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the device in  FIG. 1 , illustrating one example of actual usage where the device is worn on the body of a woman;  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating internal and external components of the device in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a main flow chart for explaining entire operation of the device in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a subroutine flow chart for explaining body information and other basic data setting and registration mode of the device in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  is a subroutine flow chart for explaining target information calculation mode of the device in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is a subroutine flow chart for explaining body consumption information calculation mode of the device in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for entering basic body data;  
         [0048]      FIG. 9  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for entering basic menstruation data;  
         [0049]      FIG. 10  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for entering target basic data;  
         [0050]      FIG. 11  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for measuring pulse rate at rest condition;  
         [0051]      FIG. 12  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for representing information about menstruation related body transition terms before measurements of number of steps, etc.;  
         [0052]      FIG. 13  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for representing target information and health related information before measurements of number of steps, etc.;  
         [0053]      FIG. 14  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for representing number of steps, energy consumption due to exercise and fat mass burned due to exercise;  
         [0054]      FIG. 15  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for representing target number of steps, actual number of steps and advice information;  
         [0055]      FIG. 16  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for graphically representing historical data of consumption in body;  
         [0056]      FIG. 17  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for representing historical data of menstruation data and number of days for menstruation period in the form of a table;  
         [0057]      FIG. 18  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for representing data of anticipated term for start of future menstruation;  
         [0058]      FIG. 19  is a view illustrating one example of a display screen for representing body consumption information taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition terms;  
         [0059]      FIG. 20  shows a table 1 representing age·sex coefficients used in the calculation formulae;  
         [0060]      FIG. 21  shows a table 2 representing relation between number of days from menstruation and body transition terms; and  
         [0061]      FIG. 22  shows a table 3 representing relation between time period for one step and calorie constant. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0062]      FIG. 1  is a schematic external view of a device for providing body consumption information of a woman according to an embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the device for providing body consumption information of a woman in  FIG. 1 , illustrating one example where the device is worn on the body of a woman; and  FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating internal components of the device for providing body consumption information of a woman in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the device for providing body consumption information of a woman according to this embodiment comprises: a case body  10 ; a pulse sensor  20  forming a part of a pulse rate measurement unit coupled to the case body  10  via a cord  1  having suitable length; and a earphone  30  forming a pitch guide tone generator unit. Provided on an external surface of the case body  10  are: a display unit  11 ; and an input unit  17  including a start button  12 , an up-button  13 , a down-button  14 , a setting button  15 , and a switching button  16 . Although not shown, on the rear side of the case body  10 , there is provided a clip for mounting the case body  10  to a belt  2  of a user, for example, as seen in  FIG. 2 . In addition, a battery lid is provided for replacing batteries forming power supply unit for the device. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the pulse sensor  20  and the earphone  30  are configured to wear on a lobe of the user, for example, when the device is in use.  
         [0063]     As is apparent in  FIG. 3 , the case body  10  contains: a pulse rate measurement unit  20  including the pulse sensor, an A/D converter and a pulse rate calculation unit; a pitch guide tone generator unit  30  including an earphone; a power supply unit  31  including batteries; a pedometer unit  32  including an accelerator sensor, an A/D converter and a number-of-steps calculation unit; a target information calculation unit  33 ; a body consumption information calculation unit  34 ; a general information calculation unit  35 ; a storage unit  36 ; a clock unit  37 ; and a control unit  38 .  
         [0064]     Now, detailed description of configuration and function for each of the units will be made. At first, the power supply unit  31  is made up of batteries for providing electric power to each of electrical units.  
         [0065]     The input unit  17  is configured to operate the start button  12 , the up-button  13 , the down-button  14 , the setting button  15 , and the switching button  16  in order to enter the following data: basic body data of a woman under test (height, body weight, age and fat rate all at current time), as shown in  FIG. 8 ; basic menstruation data of the woman (current date, previous menstruation date, number of days for the previous menstruation period, and number of days within the previous menstruation term), as shown in  FIG. 9 ; and target basic data (target fat rate and anticipated date on which the target is attained), as shown in  FIG. 10 . It is noted that a square mark on a display screen of the display unit  11 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , for example, means a cursor.  
         [0066]     The pedometer unit  32  includes a detector, an A/D converter and a number-of-steps calculator for determining the number of steps during exercise (at the time of activity) in the same manner as the previous pedometer.  
         [0067]     The pulse rate measurement unit  20  incorporating a pulse sensor is made up of a detector, an A/D converter and a pulse rate calculator to determine pulse rate of the woman at rest condition in the same manner as the previous pulse rate meter.  
         [0068]     The clock unit  37  includes a clock and a calculator for determining time data such as walking time, number of days within target interval, number of days after menstruation, etc.  
         [0069]     The storage unit  36  stores the following calculation formulae: formulae (1) to (9) for calculating target information (target number of steps per a day); and formulae (11) to (37) and (41) to (57) for calculating body consumption information (basal metabolism, energy consumption due to exercise, total energy consumption, fat mass burned due to exercise, and total burned fat mass), taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition term (follicular phase and luteal phase). Coefficients used in those formulae are also stored in the storage unit  36 . Furthermore, the storage unit  36  stores the following information in advance or if necessary: relation (or body transition term data) between number of days after menstruation and body transition term, as listed in table 2 in  FIG. 21 ; advice information according to the condition when actual number of steps reaches the target number of steps, as shown in  FIG. 15 ; historical graphic information about body consumption, as shown in  FIG. 16 ; historical information about menstruation date and number of days for menstruation period, as shown in  FIG. 17 ; each type of input information, as shown in FIGS.  8  to  10 ; historical information about pulse rate at rest condition measured by the pulse rate measurement unit, as shown in  FIG. 11 ; and historical information about number of steps measured by the pedometer unit  32 .  
         [0070]     The target information calculation unit  33  calculates target number of steps per a day depending on the body transition terms from menstruation by substituting each type of data from the input unit  17 , the pedometer unit  32  and the clock unit  37  for formulae (1) to (7) of the following formulae (1) to (9) stored in the storage unit  36  according to the flow in target information calculation mode in  FIG. 6 .  
               Target   ⁢           ⁢   Fat   ⁢           ⁢     Mass   ⁢           [   kg   ]       =               TargetFat             Rate   ⁢           [   %   ]           100     ×     (       CurrentWeight   ⁢           [   kg   ]     -             CurrentFat             Rate   ⁢           [   %   ]           100     ×     CurrentWeight   ⁢           [   kg   ]         )         1   -       TargetFatRate   ⁢           [   %   ]     100                 (   1   )             
 Target Fat Reduction [kg]=Current Weight [kg]×Current Fat Rate [%]/100−Target Fat Mass [kg]  (2)
 
Target Fat Burned Energy [kcal]=Target Fat Reduction [kg]×7200[kcal/kg]  (3) 
 
Target Fat Burned Energy per Day [kcal/day]=Target Fat Burned Energy [kcal]/Number of Days in Target Interval [days]  (4)
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise per Step [kcal/step]=Age·Sex Coefficient×Weight [kg]/100   (5)
 
Target Number of Steps per Day [steps/day]=Target Fat Burned Energy per Day [kcal/day]/Energy Consumption due to Exercise per Step [kcal/step]  (6)
 
Target Number of Steps per Day in Luteal Phase [steps/day]=Target Number of Steps per Day [steps/day]×Luteal Phase Correction Coefficient   (7)
 
Target Number of Steps per Day in Follicular Phase (in Menstruation Term) [steps/day]=Target Number of Steps per Day [steps/day]×Follicular Phase (in Menstruation Term) Correction Coefficient   (8)
 
Target Number of Steps per Day in Follicular Phase (after Menstruation Term) [steps/day]=Target Number of Steps per Day [steps/day]+Target Number of Steps per Day [steps/day]×Follicular Phase (after Menstruation Term) Correction Coefficient×14/(Average Number of Days for Menstruation Period [days]−14+Number of Days within Menstruation Term [days])  (9)
 
         [0071]     The body consumption information calculation unit  34  calculates body consumption information (basal metabolism, energy consumption due to exercise, total energy consumption, fat mass burned due to exercise, and total burned fat mass), taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition term (follicular phase and luteal phase) by substituting each type of data from the input unit  17 , the pedometer unit  32 , the pulse rate measurement unit  20  and the clock unit  37  for the following formulae (11) to (23) stored in the storage unit  36  according to the flow in body consumption information calculation mode in  FIG. 7 .
 
Fat Free Mass [kg]=Weight [kg]&#39;Weight [kg]×Fat Rate [%]/100   (11)
 
Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]=Coefficient “a”×Fat Free Mass 2  [kg]+Coefficient “b”×Fat Free Mass [kg]+Coefficient “c”/Age[years]+Coefficient “d”×Weight [kg]+Coefficient “e”  (12)
 
Basal Metabolism in Follicular Phase [kcal/day]=Coefficient “f1”×Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]+Coefficient “g1”  (13)
 
Basal Metabolism in Luteal Phase [kcal/day]=Coefficient “f2”×Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]+Coefficient “g2”  (14)
        Energy Consumption due to Exercise [kcal/day]=Age·Sex Coefficient×Weight [kg]×Number of Steps [steps]/100   (15)
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Follicular Phase [kcal/day]=Coefficient “h1”×Energy Consumption due to Exercise [kcal/day]+Coefficient “i1”  (16)
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Luteal Phase [kcal/day]=Coefficient “h2”×Energy Consumption due to Exercise [kcal/day]+Coefficient “i2”  (17)
 
Total Energy Consumption in Follicular Phase [kcal/day]=Basal Metabolism in Follicular Phase [kcal/day]+Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Follicular Phase [kcal/day]  (18)
 
Total Energy Consumption in Luteal Phase [kcal/day]=Basal Metabolism in Luteal Phase [kcal/day]+Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Luteal Phase [kcal/day]  (19)
 
Intensity of Exercise [%]=Coefficient “j”×Number of Steps (steps)/Walking Time [min]+Coefficient “k”  (20)
 
Fat Burning Efficiency [%]=−Coefficient “m”×Intensity of Exercise [%]−Coefficient “n”×Pulse Rate at Rest Condition [pulses/min]+Coefficient “p”×Walking Time [min]−Coefficient “q”×Sex Coefficient+Coefficient “r”  (21)
 
Fat Mass Burned Due to Exercise in Follicular or Luteal Phase [g]=Fat Burning Efficiency [%]×Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Follicular or Luteal Phase [kcal/day]/7.2 [kcal/g]  (22)
 
Total Fat Mass Burned in Follicular or Luteal Phase [g]=Fat Mass Burned Due to Exercise [g]+Basal Metabolism in Follicular or Luteal Phase [kcal/day]7.2 [kcal/g]  (23)
       
 
         [0073]     The general information calculation unit  35  calculates some general information (e.g. interval between pitch guide tones generated by the pitch guide tone generator unit  30  for guiding a user to walk at pulse rate of fixed and safety range, anticipated term for start day of future menstruation, as shown in  FIG. 18 , etc.) other than those information calculated in the target information calculation unit  33  and the body consumption information calculation unit  34 .  
         [0074]     The pitch guide tone generator unit  30  generates pitch guide tones for guiding a user to walk at pulse rate of fixed and safety range under the control of the control unit  38 , as described later.  
         [0075]     The display unit  11  displays the following data and information: basic body data, basic menstruation data and target basic data entered via the input unit  17 , as shown in FIGS.  8  to  10 ; pulse rate at rest condition measured by the pulse rate measurement unit  20 , as shown in  FIG. 11 ; body transition term data associated with menstruation, which is displayed before measurement of number of steps, etc., as shown in  FIG. 12 ; target information (target number of steps on current day) and health related information, which is displayed before measurement of number of steps, etc., as shown in  FIG. 13 ; number of steps, energy consumption due to exercise, and fat mass burned due to exercise measured by the pedometer  32 , as shown in  FIG. 14 ; target number of steps on current day, number of steps walked up to now on current day (actual number of steps), and advice information, which are displayed by operation of the switching button  16  after measurement with the pedometer unit  32 , as shown in  FIG. 15 ; historical information of body consumption (fat mass burned due to exercise) in the form of graph, which is displayed by operation of the switching button  16  after measurement with the pedometer unit  32 , as shown in  FIG. 16 ; historical information of menstruation date and number of days for menstruation period, which is displayed by operation of the switching button  16  after measurement with the pedometer unit  32 , as shown in  FIG. 17 ; information of anticipated term for start day of future menstruation (next time, second and third subsequent times), which is displayed by operation of the switching button  16  after measurement with the pedometer unit  32 , as shown in  FIG. 18 ; and body consumption information (basal metabolism, energy consumption due to exercise, total energy consumption, fat mass burned due to exercise, and total burned fat mass), taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition terms (follicular phase and luteal phase), which is displayed by operation of the switching button  16  after measurement with the pedometer unit  32 , as shown in  FIG. 19 .  
         [0076]     The control unit  38  acts to control operations of the various components in the device to provide the following information: target number of steps per a day depending on body transition terms from menstruation of a woman, which is calculated in the target information calculation unit  33  according to each data sent from the input unit  17 , the pedometer unit  32 , the pulse rate measurement unit  20  and the clock unit  37 , and each type of formula stored in the storage unit  36 ; body consumption information (basal metabolism, energy consumption due to exercise, total energy consumption, fat mass burned due to exercise, and total burned fat mass), taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition terms (follicular phase and luteal phase), which is calculated in the body consumption information calculation unit  34 ; and some general information other than those calculated in the target information calculation unit  33  and the body consumption information calculation unit  34 , which general information is calculated in the general information calculation unit  35 . Furthermore, the control unit  38  acts to control operation of the pitch guide tone generator unit  30  to generate the guide tone; to control the display unit  11  to provide each type of display thereon; and to control the storage unit  36  to store each type of data therein.  
         [0077]     Now, entire operation of the device for providing body consumption information of a woman configured in the manner as described above will be described in more detail with reference to main flow chart of  FIG. 4  and subroutine flow charts of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Referring first to the main flow chart of  FIG. 4 , after preparation in which a battery lid on the rear side of the case body  10  is opened and batteries are installed, a user depresses the start button  12 . Then, electric power is supplied from the power supply  31  to each of electrical components in the device, and thereafter, at step S 1 , a check is made to determine whether the setting button  15  is depressed within the time period of several seconds.  
         [0078]     If the setting button  15  is depressed the routine enters basic data setting and registration mode in which the basic data such as body information, etc. is set and registered, which is described later with reference to  FIG. 5 . On the other hand, if the setting button  15  is not depressed the routine enters target information calculation mode, which is described later with reference to  FIG. 6 . After the target information calculation mode, the display unit  11  displays information as shown in  FIG. 12  for a fixed time period, and then, the information on the screen is switched to one as shown in  FIG. 13 .  
         [0079]     Referring to  FIG. 12  illustrating information displayed on the screen of the display unit, “M” means previous menstruation day; “b  25   th  day” means number of days elapsed from the previous menstruation day; and “28 days” means number of days for previous menstruation period. A “solar” mark on the top of the screen is turned ON at such position that corresponds to number of days from menstruation. A message “Term is in PMS and luteal phase” indicates such body transition term that corresponds to number of days from menstruation. Then, referring to  FIG. 13  illustrating information displayed on the screen of the display unit, “8000 steps” means target number of steps per a day determined depending on body transition term from menstruation; a square mark encircling “Yes” means a cursor; and a message “For skin roughen take Vitamin B, C . . . Spinach, Banana” is information about health care. “Start to walk?” on the screen in  FIG. 13  is a message for asking a user whether she will start walking or not, which is associated with “Yes” or “No” indicated beneath that message. Every time the up-button  13  or the down-button  14  is depressed during the time when the information in  FIG. 13  displayed on the screen then “Yes” or “No” is alternately displayed.  
         [0080]     If, at step S 2 , the user depresses the setting button  15  when “Yes” is displayed on the screen in  FIG. 13  then the routine proceeds to YES branch. On the other hand, if the user depresses the setting button  15  when “No” is displayed then the routine proceeds to NO branch. That is to say, if the setting button  15  is depressed when “No” is selected in  FIG. 13  then the routine returns to decision block for the setting button (step S 1 ) after start of the operation. However, if the setting button  15  is depressed when “Yes” is selected then the routine proceeds to step S 3  where generation of pitch guide tone/measurement of number of steps and walking time are performed.  
         [0081]     At step S 3  the pitch guide tone is generated by the pitch guide tone generator unit  30  in order to guide the user to walk at the pulse rate of fixed and safety range. The user or the woman under test wears the case body  10  on her body with the aid of a belt and the like and also wears the earphone on her ear. Thereafter, she starts to walk while being guided by the pitch guide tone generated by the pitch tone generator unit  30 . The pedometer unit  32  starts to measure number of steps and the clock unit  37  starts to measure walking time (or time period elapsed after selection of “Yes” is determined).  
         [0082]     Then, the routine enters body consumption information calculation mode, which is described later with reference to  FIG. 7 , where the body consumption information calculation unit  34  calculates body consumption information (basal metabolism, energy consumption due to exercise, total energy consumption, fat mass burned due to exercise, and total burned fat mass), taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition terms (follicular phase and luteal phase).  
         [0083]     Then, the display unit  11  displays body consumption and other information on the screen thereof, as shown in  FIG. 14 . The result of calculation (number of steps, calorie consumption due to exercise and fat mass burned due to exercise) provided every time when sampling of number of steps and walking time is performed is displayed on the display screen in  FIG. 14 . On this display screen “AAAA steps” on top row means number of steps that the user walked up to now on the current day; “YYYY kcal” on middle row means calorie consumption due to exercise that the user consumed up to now on the current day; and “BBB g” on bottom row means fat mass burned due to exercise that the user burned up to now on the current day. Each of values on this display screen is updated every time the sampling is performed at step S 3  in order to measure number of steps and walking time. Every time the switching button  16  is depressed, at step S 4 , the content of information displayed on the screen is successively changed, at step S 5 , in the following sequence:  FIG. 14 → FIG. 15 → FIG. 16 → FIG. 17 → FIG. 18 → FIG. 19 → FIG. 14 .  
         [0084]     If the switching button  16  is not depressed, at step S 4 , while body consumption and other information is displayed then the routine returns to step S 3  where pitch guide tone is generated and sampling is performed to measure number of steps and walking time. However, if the switching button  16  is depressed, the content of information displayed on the display unit  11  is changed from that shown in  FIG. 14  to that shown in  FIG. 15 . Thereafter, the content of information displayed on the screen is successively changed in the sequence, as described above, every time when the switching button  16  is depressed. The values for body consumption information (basal metabolism, energy consumption due to exercise, total energy consumption, fat mass burned due to exercise, and total burned fat mass) on the display screen, as shown in  FIG. 19 , are updated every time the sampling is performed to measure number of steps and walking time at step S 3 .  
         [0085]     Referring to  FIG. 15  illustrating information displayed on the screen of the display unit, “TTTT steps” means target number of steps per a day depending on body transition term from menstruation; “AAAA steps” means number of steps that the user walked up to now on current day; and “Target number of steps is exceeded, today . . . Keep this pace for remaining 25 days . . . ” is advice message. Referring to  FIG. 16 , a “bar graph” represents historical data by plotting time period on horizontal axis and fat mass burned due to exercise on vertical axis; and “M”, “b  25   th  day”, “28 days” and “Solar mark” have same meaning as those described with reference to  FIG. 12 . Referring to  FIG. 17 , “M column” lists previous menstruation date; and “CYCLE column” lists previous number of days for menstruation period. Referring to  FIG. 18 , “10.2˜10.10” means anticipated term during which the next menstruation will be started; “10.30˜11.5” means anticipated term during which second subsequent menstruation will be started; and “11.29˜12.5” means anticipated term during which third subsequent menstruation will be started. Referring to  FIG. 19 , “ZZZZ kcal” on first row means basal metabolism on current day; “YYYY kcal” on second row means energy consumption due to exercise that the user consumed up to now on current day; “XXXX kcal” on third row means total calorie consumption that the user consumed up to now on current day; “WVVWW g” on fourth row means fat mass burned due to exercise that the user burned up to now on current day; and “UUU g” on fifth row means total fat mass burned due to exercise that the user burned up to now on current day.  
         [0086]     Referring now to subroutine flow chart of  FIG. 5 , data setting and registration mode of operation in which basic data such as body information and the like is set and registered will be described in more detail. When entering the data setting and registration mode, at step S 11 , the display unit  11  provides data input screen for entering basic body data, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The user enters the relevant values for data items according to the guide (or movement) of the cursor. When the cursor is positioned at “Enter” on the screen the user may depress the setting button  15  to register the values for data items on the screen in the storage unit  36 , at step S 12 . More particularly, the user enters the values for height, body weight, age, and fat rate, as guided by movement of the cursor, and stores (or registers) them in the storage unit. In this respect, every time the up-button  13  or the down-button  14  is depressed, the value pointed by the cursor is increased/decreased. When the setting button  15  is depressed the value pointed by the cursor is entered, and then, operation proceeds to a step of entering the next value. Finally, when the cursor is positioned at “Enter” the setting button  15  is depressed to register the values for data items on the screen in the storage unit  36 . It is noted that the same process of setting and registration of the values, as described above, is again performed on the display screen as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , which is described later.  
         [0087]     Then, at step S 13 , the display unit  11  provides display on the screen thereof for entering basic menstruation data, as shown in  FIG. 9 . At step S 14 , the user enters the values for current date, previous menstruation date, number of days for previous menstruation period, and number of days in previous menstruation term, as guided by the cursor, on the display screen in  FIG. 9 , and then, stores (or registers) them in the storage unit. Thereafter, at step S 15 , the display unit  11  provides display on the screen thereof for entering target basic data, as shown in  FIG. 10 . At step S 16 , the user enters the values for target fat rate and anticipated date to reach the target, as guided by the cursor, on the display screen in  FIG. 10 , and then, stores (or registers) them in the storage unit.  
         [0088]     Then, at step S 17 , the display unit  11  provides display on the screen thereof for measuring pulse rate of the user at rest condition, as shown in  FIG. 11 . When measuring pulse rate at rest condition the user wears the pulse sensor on her lobe, as described with reference to  FIG. 2 . Every time the up-button  13  or the down-button  14  is depressed the wording pointed by the cursor is switched between “Measure” and “Not Measure”. If the setting button  15  is depressed while “Measure” is selected then measurement of pulse rate at rest condition is started so that the pulse rate at rest condition is displayed at “XXX” on the screen every time the sampling is made. After a preset fixed time period is elapsed the measurement is automatically terminated and the cursor is moved to the position of “Enter” on the screen. If the setting button  15  is depressed, at step S 18 , then the measured value of pulse rate at rest condition is stored in the storage unit  36  and the basic data setting and registration mode is terminated. However, if the setting button  15  is depressed while “Not Measure” is selected then the cursor is moved to the position of “Enter” without any measurement of pulse rate at rest condition conducted.  
         [0089]     Referring now to subroutine flow chart of  FIG. 6 , target information calculation mode of operation will be described. When entering this mode, at step S 21 , the target information calculation unit  33  calculates target fat mass by substituting target fat rate, current body weight and current body fat rate entered via the input unit  17  in body information and other basic data setting and registration mode for the formula (1) retrieved from the storage unit  36 .  
         [0090]     Then, as the routine proceeds through steps S 22  to S 27 , the target information calculation unit  33  calculates target number of steps per a day by substituting data entered via the input unit  17  (current body weight and current body fat rate), data measured by the clock unit  37  (number of days in target term that is calculated on the basis of current date and anticipated date to reach the target entered via the input unit  17  at the previous step using the formula (4)), some coefficient already stored in the storage unit  36  (one of the coefficients in “female” row in table 1 as shown in  FIG. 20  is selected depending on age entered via the input unit  17 ), and previously calculated data for formulae (2) to (6) retrieved from the storage unit  36 . More precisely, at step S 22 , the formula (2) is used to calculate target reduction of fat mass, and at step S 23 , the formula (3) is used to calculate target fat burned energy. Then, at step S 24 , number of days from current date to anticipated date to reach the target is counted to provide number of days in the target term. Then, at step S 25 , the formula (4) is used to calculate target fat burned energy per a day, and at step S 26 , the formula (5) is used to calculate energy consumption per a step. Then, at step S 27 , the formula (6) is used to calculate the target number of steps per a day.  
         [0091]     Then, at step S 28 , the clock unit  37  counts days between the previous menstruation date and the current date both entered via the input unit  17  to determine number of days from menstruation, which is then used to select body transition term corresponding thereto in table  2  in  FIG. 21 . The target information calculation unit  33  operates to average the historical data of number of days for menstruation period stored in the storage unit  36  to provide an average number of days for menstruation period.  
         [0092]     Then, at step S 29 , the calculated data (target number of steps per a day and average number of days for menstruation period), coefficients stored in the storage unit (follicular phase (menstruation term) correction coefficient, luteal phase correction coefficient, and follicular phase (after menstruation term) correction coefficient), and number of days in menstruation term (number of days in previous menstruation term) entered via the input unit are substituted for any one of formulae (7) to (9) adaptable to the selected body transition term and the average number of days for menstruation period to calculate target number of steps per a day according to the body transition term from menstruation (luteal phase, follicular phase (menstruation term) and follicular phase (after menstruation term)).  
         [0093]     Referring now to subroutine flow chart of  FIG. 7 , body consumption information calculation mode of operation will be described. When entering this mode, first of all, at step S 31 , the control unit  38  controls to retrieve, from the storage unit  36 , any one of the formulae (13) to (14) adaptable to body transition term corresponding to number of days from menstruation selected in the previous target information calculation mode. Then, at step S 32 , the body consumption information calculation unit  34  acts to substitute the data entered via the input unit  17  (current body weight, current body fat rate and age) and the previously calculated data for the formulae (11) and (12) retrieved from the storage unit  36  to calculate fat free mass and basal metabolism, and to substitute them for any one of the previously selected formulae (13) and (14) to calculate basal metabolism according to body transition term (luteal phase or follicular phase) corresponding to number of days from menstruation.  
         [0094]     Then, at steps S 33  to S 37 , the body consumption information calculation unit  34  similarly acts to substitute the previously calculated data and each type of data from the input unit  17 , pedometer unit  32 , the pulse rate measurement unit  20 , the clock unit  37  and the storage unit  36  for the formulae (15) to (23) retrieved from the storage unit  36  to calculate the body consumption information (energy consumption due to exercise in follicular phase or luteal phase, total energy consumption in follicular phase or luteal phase, fat mass burned due to exercise in follicular phase or luteal phase, and total fat mass burned in follicular phase or luteal phase), taking into account of body transition term corresponding to number of days from menstruation, i.e. woman&#39;s physiological body transition term. More specifically, at step S 33 , any one of the formulae (16) and (17) is selected for calculating energy consumption due to exercise according to body transition term selected in the target information calculation mode. Then, at step S 34 , the formula (15) is used to calculate energy consumption due to exercise, and the previously selected formula (16) or (17) is used to calculate energy consumption due to exercise according to the body transition term. At step S 35 , the formula (18) or (19) is used to calculate total energy consumption according to body transition term, and at step S 36 , the formulae (20), (21) and (22) are used to calculate fat mass burned due to exercise according to body transition term, and at step S 37 , the formula (23) is used to calculate total fat mass burned according to body transition term.  
         [0095]     The age·sex coefficient in the formula (15) is selected in table 1 as shown in  FIG. 20  in such manner that “female” row is selected and one of the coefficients in that row is selected depending on age entered via the input unit  17 . The sex coefficient in the formula (21) is defined as “0” which is the coefficient for female. The coefficients “a” to “r” have no concrete numerical value, here, but they are constant provided by regression analysis in creating each formula. The coefficients “f1”, “f2”, “g1”, “g2”, “h1”, “h2”, “i1”, “i2” among those coefficients “a” to “r” has such magnitude relation that is represented by: “f1”&lt;“f2”; “g1”&lt;“g2”; “h1”&lt;“h2”; and “i1”&lt;“i2” (that is to say, the calculated result for body consumption information in luteal phase is greater than that for body consumption information in follicular phase).  
         [0096]     Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiment. For example, in the body consumption information calculation mode, as described above, the energy consumption due to exercise in follicular phase or luteal phase, total energy consumption in follicular phase or luteal phase, fat mass burned due to exercise in follicular phase or luteal phase, and total fat mass burned in follicular phase or luteal phase have been calculated as the body consumption information taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition term. However, the present invention may be embodied by calculating one or more of such body consumption information.  
         [0097]     Furthermore, the formula (12) has been used in the above-mentioned embodiment for calculating basal metabolism not taking into account of woman&#39;s physiological body transition term, but it may be possible that the following formulae (31) to (37) are stored in the storage unit  36  in advance, and any one of them is retrieved therefrom for calculation.
 
Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]=Coefficient “A”×Fat Free Mass [kg]+Coefficient “B”/Age [years]+Coefficient “C”  (31)
 
Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]=Coefficient “D”×Fat Free Mass [kg]+Coefficient “E”/Age [years]+Coefficient “F”×Weight [kg]+Coefficient “G”  (32)
 
Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]=Coefficient “H”×Fat Free Mass 2  [kg 2 ]+Coefficient “I”×Fat Free Mass [kg]+Coefficient “J”/Age [years]+Coefficient“K”  (33)
 
Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]=Coefficient “L”×Fat Free Mass [kg]+Coefficient “M”  (34)
 
Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]=Age·Sex Coefficient×(Weight 0.444 [kg]×Height 0.663 [cm]×88.83)  (35)
 
Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]=Basal Metabolism Reference for Each of Sex·Age Classes [kcal/kg/day]×Weight [kg]  (36)
 
Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]=Age Coefficient×Weight [kg]+Coefficient “N”  (37)
 
         [0098]     Furthermore, the formulae (13), (14), (16) to (19), (22) and (23) have been used in the above-mentioned embodiment for calculating body consumption information (energy consumption due to exercise, total energy consumption, fat mass burned due to exercise, and total fat mass burned) in follicular phase or luteal phase, but it may be possible that the following formulae (41) to (57) are stored in the storage unit  36  in advance for calculating body consumption information (energy consumption due to exercise, total energy consumption, fat mass burned due to exercise, and total fat mass burned) in menstruation term, diet term, before-and-after ovulation term, PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) prevention term, or PMS term.
 
Basal Metabolism in Menstruation Term [kcal/day]=Coefficient “f3”×Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]+Coefficient “g3”  (41)
 
Basal Metabolism in Diet Term [kcal/day]=Coefficient “f4”×Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]+Coefficient “g4”  (42)
 
Basal Metabolism in Before-and-After Ovulation Term [kcal/day]=Coefficient “f5”×Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]+Coefficient “g5”  (43)
 
Basal Metabolism in PMS Prevention Term [kcal/day]=Coefficient “f6”×Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]+Coefficient “g6”  (44)
 
Basal Metabolism in PMS Term [kcal/day]=Coefficient “f7”×Basal Metabolism [kcal/day]+Coefficient “g7”  (45)
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Menstruation Term [kcal/day]=Coefficient “h3”×Energy Consumption due to Exercise [kcal/day]+Coefficient “i3”  (46)
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Diet Term [kcal/day]=Coefficient “h4”×Energy Consumption due to Exercise [kcal/day]+Coefficient “i4”  (47)
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Before-and-After Ovulation Term [kcal/day]=Coefficient “h5”×Energy Consumption due to Exercise [kcal/day]+Coefficient “i5”  (48)
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise in PMS Prevention Term [kcal/day]=Coefficient “h6”×Energy Consumption due to Exercise [kcal/day]+Coefficient “i6”  (49)
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise in PMS Term [kcal/day]=Coefficient “h7”×Energy Consumption due to Exercise [kcal/day]+Coefficient “i7”  (50)
 
Total Energy Consumption in Menstruation Term [kcal/day]=Basal Metabolism in Menstruation Term [kcal/day]+Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Menstruation Term [kcal/day]  (51)
 
Total Energy Consumption in Diet Term [kcal/day]=Basal Metabolism in Diet Term [kcal/day]+Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Diet Term [kcal/day]  (52)
 
Total Energy Consumption in Before-and-After Ovulation Term [kcal/day]=Basal Metabolism in Before-and-After Ovulation Term [kcal/day]+Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Before-and-After Ovulation Term [kcal/day]  (53)
 
Total Energy Consumption in PMS Prevention Term [kcal/day]=Basal Metabolism in PMS Prevention Term [kcal/day]+Energy Consumption due to Exercise in PMS Prevention Term [kcal/day]  (54)
 
Total Energy Consumption in PMS Term [kcal/day]=Basal Metabolism in PMS Term [kcal/day]+Energy Consumption due to Exercise in PMS Term [kcal/day]  (55)
 
Fat Mass Burned due to Exercise in Menstruation Term, Diet Term, Before-and-After Ovulation Term, PMS Prevention Term or PMS Term [g]=Fat Burning Efficiency [%]×Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Menstruation Term, Diet Term, Before-and-After Ovulation Term, PMS Prevention Term or PMS Term [kcal/day]/7.2 [kcal/g]  (56)
 
Total Fat Mass Burned in Menstruation Term, Diet Term, Before-and-After Ovulation Term, PMS Prevention Term or PMS Term [g]=Fat Mass Burned due to Exercise [g]+Basal Metabolism in Menstruation Term, Diet Term, Before-and-After Ovulation Term, PMS Prevention Term or PMS Term [kcal/day]/7.2 [kcal/g]  (57)
 
         [0099]     Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the formula (15) has been used for calculating energy consumption due to exercise, but it may possible that the following formulae (61) and (62) as well as table 3 in  FIG. 22  illustrating relation between time period for one step and calorie constant are stored in the storage unit  36  in advance, and thereafter, the formula (61) is retrieved for calculation of time period for one step, on the basis of which the corresponding calorie constant is selected according to the table 3 in  FIG. 22 , and the formula (62) is retrieved for calculation of energy consumption due to exercise.
 
Time Period for One Step [ms/step]=Walking Time [ms]/Number of Steps [steps]  (61)
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise [kcal/day]=Calorie Constant×Weight [kg]×Number of Steps [steps]  (62)
 
         [0100]     In addition, the formula (16) or (17) has been used for calculation of energy consumption due to exercise in follicular phase or luteal phase, but it may be possible that any one of the following formulae (63) to (65) are stored in the storage unit  36  in advance, and thereafter, it is retrieved for calculating energy consumption due to exercise in follicular phase or luteal phase. Furthermore, in those formulae (63) to (65), the basal metabolism in follicular phase or luteal phase may be replaced with the basal metabolism in menstruation term, diet term, before-and-after ovulation term, PMS prevention term, or PMS term to calculate the energy consumption due to exercise in menstruation term, diet term, before-and-after ovulation term, PMS prevention term, or PMS term.
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Follicular or Luteal Phase [kcal/day]=(0.0140×Fat Free Mass [kg]/Height 2  [cm 2 ]−0.0012×Fat Rate [%]−0.1254)×(Pulse Rate in Exercise [pulses/min]−Pulse Rate at Rest [pulses/min])+Basal Metabolism in Follicular or Luteal Phase [kcal/day]/1440+0.1812  (63)
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Follicular or Luteal Phase [kcal/day]=0.0051×(Pulse Rate in Exercise [pulses/min]−Pulse Rate at Rest [pulses/min]+15.5)×Basal Metabolism in Follicular or Luteal Phase [kcal/day]/1440  (64)
 
Energy Consumption due to Exercise in Follicular or Luteal Phase [kcal/day]=0.075×(Pulse Rate in Exercise [pulses/min]−Pulse Rate at Rest [pulses/min]+15.5)×Basal Metabolism in Follicular or Luteal Phase [kcal/day]/1440+0.0853  (65)
 
         [0101]     Moreover, fat burning efficiency calculated using the formula (21) has been substituted for to calculate fat mass burned due to exercise in follicular phase or luteal phase, but some other constant value (e.g. 30%, 40%, etc.) defined as the general fat burning efficiency in walking may be substituted for.  
         [0102]     In addition, the formula (20) has been used for calculation of intensity of exercise, but it may be possible that the following formula (66) is stored in the storage unit  36  in advance and it is retrieved for calculation of the intensity of exercise.
 
Intensity of Exercise [%]=Pulse Rate in Exercise [pulses/min]×100/(220−Age [years]−Pulse Rate at Rest [pulses/min])  (66)
 
         [0103]     In the above mentioned embodiment the basic body data have been entered by entering the relevant numerical values via the input unit, but some measurement unit may be provided in the device for measuring the basic body data.  
         [0104]     It is apparent from the foregoing that a device for providing body consumption information of a woman according to the present invention is configured to calculate body consumption information by taking into account of woman&#39;s body transition term, which makes it possible to get such precise body consumption information for a woman that is effective for control of consumption in the body or for health care of the woman.  
         [0105]     Furthermore, the device of the present invention is configured to provide target information by taking into account of woman&#39;s body transition term and to provide some advice information in comparison to that target information, which is effective for continuation of more proper health care of the woman.