JP2002065668A - Method and apparatus for measuring body fat distribution - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide information on body fat distribution including fat areas of abdomen internal organs and an abdomen subcutaneous fat area easily and with low costs without affecting a human body. SOLUTION: Thickness of the abdomen subcutaneous fat is measured to calculate the fat areas of abdomen internal organs and the abdomen subcutaneous fat area by use of the measured thickness.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring body fat in a human body, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for measuring body fat distribution in a human body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, body weight has been cited as a parameter of human health as a parameter. In recent years, however, body fat percentage has also been emphasized as one of the health factors. In response to this, various methods and devices for measuring body fat mass have been developed and proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-169023 discloses a method of measuring body fat mass by inputting height, age, and gender, and measuring weight and impedance between body ends. Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-500900 discloses that an ultrasonic pulse wave is transmitted behind an animal to detect a wave (reception wave) reflected from a boundary between a fat layer and a muscle layer, and a time period from transmission to reception. The thickness of the fat layer is measured by measuring the thickness of the fat layer. Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
In Japanese Patent No. 87139, subcutaneous fat is measured using ultrasound for each part of the human body, and a body fat estimated value for each part is calculated by multiplying by a cross-sectional area coefficient and a volume fat mass estimation coefficient of each part, and integrated. A method for estimating the amount of body fat is disclosed.

[0003]

However, recently, even with the same fat percentage, depending on the distribution of fat, that is, whether it is of the subcutaneous fat type or the visceral fat type, there is a risk of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and arteriosclerosis. It has been said that rates are different. Therefore, as a method of measuring fat distribution, C
A method based on image analysis of a tomographic image of the navel by T or MRI has been proposed.

[0004] However, such a method has problems such as complicated image analysis and expensive equipment itself.
CT also has the problem of being exposed to X-rays.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for measuring a body fat distribution in a human body, which can solve the problems of the prior art as described above.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for measuring body fat distribution in a human body, comprising measuring abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness, and measuring the abdominal visceral fat from the measured abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness. A method is provided that comprises determining an area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for measuring body fat distribution in a human body, wherein abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness is measured, and an abdominal subcutaneous fat area is determined from the measured abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness. Is provided.

[0008] According to still another aspect of the present invention, in a method of measuring body fat distribution in a human body, abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness is measured, and abdominal visceral fat area and abdominal subcutaneous fat are measured from the measured abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness. A method is provided for determining an area.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness is measured by ultrasound.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness is measured by a skin hold caliper.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention,
To obtain the abdominal visceral fat area or abdominal subcutaneous fat area, correction based on personal parameters such as gender, age, height, weight, and body mass index is performed.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in an apparatus for measuring body fat distribution in a human body, first input means for inputting abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness, and data from the first input means. And a calculating means for calculating the abdominal visceral fat area based on the following formula:

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first input means comprises an ultrasonic probe.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first input means comprises a skin hold caliper.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention,
The apparatus further includes third input means for inputting personal parameters such as gender, age, height, weight, and body mass index.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings according to embodiments and examples of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a body fat measuring device as one embodiment of the present invention. The body fat measurement device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a main body housing 10 and an ultrasonic probe 20 provided in the main body housing 10. On the upper surface of the main body housing 10, a display unit 11,
An input unit 12 and the like are provided, and a power switch (not shown) is provided at an appropriate position of the main body housing 10. A control circuit and the like including a calculation unit are provided in the main body housing 10. ing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the body fat measuring device shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the body fat measurement device 1 includes a control circuit provided in a main body housing 10, data input by a data input switch of an input unit 12, and an ultrasonic probe 20.
In response to the measurement data and the like, the operation is performed so that various calculation processing results and the like are displayed on the display unit 11 by performing the calculation processing described later.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a body fat measuring device as another embodiment of the present invention. The body fat measuring device 1A of this embodiment includes a main body housing 10A, and includes a sebum thickness measuring unit 20A such as a skin hold caliper disposed in the main body housing 10A. A display unit 11A, an input unit 12A, and the like are provided on an upper surface of the main body housing 10A.
A power switch (not shown) is provided at an appropriate location in A, and a control circuit including a calculation unit and the like are provided in the main body housing 10A.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the body fat measuring device shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the body fat measurement device 1A includes a main body housing 10
A control circuit provided in A receives data input by the data input switch of the input unit 12A, measurement data by the sebum thickness measuring unit 20A, and performs various kinds of arithmetic processing as described below. It operates to display the result of the arithmetic processing on the display unit 11A.

The ultrasonic probe 20 is for measuring the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness. The ultrasonic measuring mode for this is simple in A-mode as described later.
Although the cost is relatively high, B-mode measurement may be used.
Furthermore, in the apparatus of the above-described embodiment, the measurement of the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness is measured by an ultrasonic measurement or a skin hold caliper, but other measurement methods may be adopted.

Next, the method for measuring the body fat distribution of the human body according to the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 5 shows the procedure of measuring the body fat distribution according to the present invention in the order of large steps, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the procedure of FIG. 5 in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a person who intends to measure his / her body fat distribution turns on the power switch of the body fat measurement device 1 or 1A in step 1. Then, in steps 2 to 4, the body fat device 1 or 1
The personal parameters such as gender, age, height, weight, and body mass index are input using the data input switch of the input unit 12 of A or 12A.

Next, in step 5, using the ultrasonic probe 20 or the skin hold caliper 20A,
The abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness is measured. In this case, the measurement of the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness by the ultrasonic probe 20 is performed by A-mo.
Perform with de. The measurement data of the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness by the ultrasonic probe 20 or the skin hold caliper 20A is sent to a control circuit in the main body housing 10 or 10A. The measurement data by the skin hold caliper 20A may be read by the subject and input by the data input switch of the input unit 12A. Here, the A-mode subcutaneous fat thickness measurement will be described. A high-frequency ultrasonic wave is emitted from the ultrasonic probe 20 and the wave incident on the body surface is generated by the fat layer and the peritoneum or the fat layer and the muscle. The light is reflected at the interface with the layer and returns to the probe 20 again. Therefore, by measuring the time from the incidence to the return of the reflected wave, the thickness of fat is measured because the sound speed of fat is known.

The arithmetic circuit included in the control circuit performs various arithmetic processes as described below based on each data input as described above. In the following method A, the abdominal total fat area and the abdominal subcutaneous fat area are obtained from the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness, and the abdominal visceral fat area is obtained by subtracting the abdominal subcutaneous fat area from the abdominal total fat area. A. (1) Calculation of Abdominal Total Fat (shear) Area The abdominal total fat area is determined from the correlation with the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness (see FIG. 8).

Here, the correlation coefficient r shown in FIG.
The method of obtaining the risk factor p <z and the regression line will be described.

First, the correlation coefficient r will be described.
Is closer to 1, the deviation from the regression line is smaller, and the function of both variables is more sensitive (the change of Y with respect to the change of X does not become extremely large).

Next, the risk factor p <z will be described.
It can be said that less than z * 100 (%) of the whole has no correlation.

Next, a method of obtaining a regression line will be described. Y = a.X + b (Y: a value obtained by the value of X, in the graph, X is the horizontal axis, Y is the vertical axis) The coefficient a in the equation ,
b is obtained from the following equation using an actually measured value. b = {(XX [average]) · (YY [average])} / Σ
｛(XX [mean] ² ｝ a = Y [mean] −b · X [mean] The regression line illustrated in FIG. 8 is for a man 35 years or older, and such a regression line is , Age, height, body mass index (hereinafter referred to as BMI), etc. Therefore, it is known that the correction based on such personal parameters provides more accurate fat. The area can be estimated.
The BMI is a measure for measuring the balance between height and weight recognized by the International Obesity Society. BMI is defined by the following equation. BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m) ² A. (2) Calculation of Abdominal Subcutaneous Fat (Shear) Area The abdominal subcutaneous fat area is determined from the correlation with the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness (see FIG. 10). A. (3) Calculation of abdominal visceral fat area The abdominal visceral fat area is determined by subtracting the abdominal subcutaneous fat area from the abdominal total fat area. A. (4) Calculation of abdominal visceral fat area / abdominal subcutaneous fat area The method B below is for calculating the abdominal visceral fat area from the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness. B. (1) Calculation of abdominal visceral fat area The abdominal visceral fat area is determined from the correlation with the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness (see FIG. 9). B. (2) Calculation of Abdominal Subcutaneous Fat Area The abdominal subcutaneous fat area is determined from the correlation with the subcutaneous fat thickness (see FIG. 10). B. (3) Calculation of abdominal visceral fat area / abdominal subcutaneous fat area Next, the criterion for determining visceral fat will be described.
It is said that visceral fat obesity is more common than subcutaneous fat obesity as an influencing factor for lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes. So far, CT scan and M
A subcutaneous fat area and a visceral fat area are obtained from a cross-sectional image of the navel region by RI. When the BMI is less than 26.4 and the visceral fat area is 100 cm ² , the visceral fat type obesity is determined. On the other hand, when the BMI exceeds 26.4, the visceral fat area / subcutaneous fat area is 0.4 or more, visceral fat obesity, and when the BMI is less than 0.4, subcutaneous fat obesity. This criterion is based on the following references. References: Tadashi Nakamura, Yuji Matsuzawa, "Obesity as a Background of Disease", Clinical Laboratory, Vol. 42, pp. 385-394, 199.
8 In addition, BMI ≧ 25 and waist ≦ 85cm (male), 9
In the case of 0 cm (female), a criterion for judging a visceral fat area of 100 cm ² or more as visceral fat obesity by photographing an abdominal cross section by CT or the like has been proposed. The proposed criteria are from the following references: References: Yuji Matsuzawa, Tadashi Nakamura, and 11 others, "New Judgment of Obesity and Diagnosis Criteria for Obesity", Obesity Research, Vol. 6, p.
18-28, 2000

Therefore, in order to further improve the accuracy, a method for obtaining the BMI from the input weight and height and obtaining each fat area from the value and the abdominal subcutaneous fat area will be described below. Explaining how to obtain a regression line from two parameters, Y
= A · X1 + bX2 + c (Y: value obtained from the values of X1 and X2, Y in the graph is the vertical axis) a, b, and c in the formulas are the following simultaneous equations using actual measurement values (n data numbers) Find more. (I is 1 to n) ΣYi = aΣX1i + bΣX2i + c ・ n (X1i ・ Yi) = aΣ (X1i) ² + bΣ (X1i
・ X2i) + c ・ {X1i} (X1i ・ Yi) = a ・ {(X1i ・ X2i) + b ・}
(X2i) ² + c · ΣX2i The method C below corresponds the method A to the method using the BMI. C. (1) Calculation of Abdominal Total Fat (Shear) Area The abdominal total fat area is determined from the correlation with the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and BMI (see FIG. 11). C. (2) Calculation of Abdominal Subcutaneous Fat (Shear) Area The abdominal subcutaneous fat area is determined from the correlation with the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and BMI (see FIG. 13). C. (3) Calculation of abdominal visceral fat area The abdominal visceral fat area is determined by subtracting the abdominal subcutaneous fat area from the abdominal total fat area. C. (4) Calculation of abdominal visceral fat area / abdominal subcutaneous fat area The method D below corresponds the method B to the method using BMI. D. (1) Calculation of abdominal visceral fat area The abdominal visceral fat area is determined from the correlation with the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and BMI (see FIG. 12). D. (2) Calculation of Abdominal Subcutaneous Fat Area The abdominal subcutaneous fat area is determined from the correlation with the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and BMI (see FIG. 13). D. (3) Calculation of abdominal visceral fat area / abdominal subcutaneous fat area

[0031]

According to the present invention, since the abdominal visceral fat area and the abdominal subcutaneous fat area are obtained from the measured abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness, the conventional complicated image analysis, use of expensive equipment, or exposure to X-rays And other problems do not occur. Since there is no need for weight measurement, bioelectrical impedance measurement, or the like, the measurement is simpler and can be performed with confidence even by a person using a pacemaker.

Further, since the correction is performed based on the personal parameters such as the BMI, the fat area can be estimated with higher accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a body fat measurement device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the body fat measurement device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a body fat measurement device as another embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the body fat measurement device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a procedure of measuring a body fat distribution according to the present invention in order divided into large steps.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of FIG. 5 in more detail;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of FIG. 5 in more detail;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a correlation between abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and abdominal total fat area.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a correlation between abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and abdominal visceral fat area.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a correlation between abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and abdominal total subcutaneous fat area.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the abdominal total fat area calculated from the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and the BMI regression equation and the abdominal total fat area actually measured by CT.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between abdominal visceral fat area calculated from regression formulas of abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and BMI, and abdominal visceral fat area actually measured by CT.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relationship between the abdominal subcutaneous fat area calculated from the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and the BMI regression equation and the abdominal subcutaneous fat area actually measured by CT.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 body fat measuring device 11 display unit 20 ultrasonic probe

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method for measuring body fat distribution in a human body, comprising measuring abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and obtaining an abdominal visceral fat area from the measured abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness. 2. A method for measuring body fat distribution in a human body, comprising measuring abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and obtaining an abdominal subcutaneous fat area from the measured abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness. 3. A method for measuring a body fat distribution of a human body, comprising measuring abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness, and calculating abdominal visceral fat area and abdominal subcutaneous fat area from the measured abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness. Method. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness is measured by ultrasound. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness is measured with a skin hold caliper. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the abdominal visceral fat area or the abdominal subcutaneous fat area is corrected based on personal parameters such as gender, age, height, weight, and body mass index. A method according to any one of the preceding claims. 7. An apparatus for measuring body fat distribution in a human body, wherein first input means for inputting abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness, and abdominal visceral fat area is calculated based on data from the first input means. And an operation means for performing the operation. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first input means comprises an ultrasonic probe. 9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first input means comprises a skin hold caliper. 10. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a second input unit for inputting personal parameters such as gender, age, height, weight, and body mass index.