Trunk visceral fat measuring method and apparatus, trunk skeletal muscle amount measuring apparatus, trunk subcutaneous fat measuring method and apparatus, and trunk visceral and subcutaneous fat measuring method and apparatus

• US 20060235327A1
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tanita Corporation (Tanita)
• Original Assignee: Tanita Corporation (Tanita)
• Inventors: Kasahara, Yasuhiro, Masuo, Yoshihisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,925,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus capable of measuring visceral fat tissues accumulated in the trunk with high accuracy apply a current to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion from a pair of current applying electrodes, measure a potential difference which has occurred in the tissue through which the current has passed by a pair of voltage measuring electrodes, and determine the visceral fat tissue volume of the trunk by use of the impedance of the trunk which has been obtained by use of the measured potential difference.

Claims

1. A trunk visceral fat measuring method comprising the steps of:

applying a current from a pair of current applying electrodes to at least one of a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin and a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion,

measuring a potential difference which has occurred in the tissue through which the current has passed by a pair of voltage measuring electrodes, and

determining the visceral fat tissue amount of the trunk by use of the impedance of the trunk which has been obtained by use of the potential difference.

2. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, wherein the current applying electrodes are disposed in the trunk circumferential direction, and the voltage measuring electrodes are disposed at positions remote from the current applying electrodes in the trunk length direction to make the measurement.

3. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the voltage measuring electrodes measure the potential difference in a body part where the subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where the skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion.

4. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, comprising determining a trunk skeletal muscle tissue volume based on body specifying information, determining the impedance of trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer based on the determined trunk skeletal muscle tissue volume and body specifying information, determining the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information, determining the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissue of the trunk based on the determined splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information, determining the impedance of the visceral fat tissue of the trunk based on the determined impedance of the trunk, the determined impedance of the trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer and the determined impedance of the splanchnic organ tissue of the trunk, and determining the visceral fat tissue amount of the trunk based on the determined impedance of the visceral fat tissue of the trunk and body specifying information.

5. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining the impedance of the visceral fat tissue of the trunk based on the impedance of the trunk, the determined impedance of the trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer and the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissue of the trunk is characterized by an electrical equivalent circuit of the trunk in which the impedance of the trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer is connected in parallel to a series circuit of the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissue of the trunk and the impedance of the trunk visceral fat tissue.

6. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, wherein the body part is a section between the navel and the upper border of the iliac crest or aponeurosis between the rectus abdominis muscle and the external abdominal oblique muscle.

7. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, wherein measurement of the impedance of the trunk is carried out around the abdomen.

8. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, wherein at least one electrode out of the current applying electrodes and the voltage measuring electrodes is disposed off the abdominal circumference.

9. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, wherein the current applying electrodes are disposed on the abdominal circumference, and one or both of the voltage measuring electrodes are disposed off the abdominal circumference.

10. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, wherein the current applying electrodes are disposed in the sections on the left and right sides when viewed with the navel as the center therebetween.

11. The trunk visceral fat measuring method claim 1, wherein the voltage measuring electrodes are disposed in the sections on the left and right sides when viewed with the navel as the center therebetween.

12. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, wherein the voltage measuring electrodes are disposed in the trunk longitudinal direction within an abdominal region off the abdominal circumference.

25. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, comprising:

applying a current from a pair of current applying electrodes to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency,

measuring a potential difference which has occurred by the current by a pair of voltage measuring electrodes,

determining the impedance of the trunk, and

determining the visceral fat tissue amount of the trunk by use of the determined impedance of the trunk.

26. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, comprising:

applying a current from a pair of current applying electrodes to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency,

measuring a potential difference which has occurred by the current by a pair of voltage measuring electrodes,

measuring the impedance of the trunk,

determining the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk based on the measured impedance of the trunk,

determining the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information,

determining the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk based on the determined splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

determining the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the measured impedance of the trunk, the determined impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk and the determined impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

determining the visceral fat tissue amount of the trunk based on the determined impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

27. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, comprising:

applying a current from a pair of current applying electrodes to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency,

measuring a potential difference which has occurred by the current by a pair of voltage measuring electrodes,

measuring the impedance of the trunk,

determining the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk based on the measured impedance of the trunk,

determining the subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information,

determining the impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk based on the determined subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

determining the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information,

determining the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk based on the determined splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

determining the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the measured impedance of the trunk, the determined impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk, the determined impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk and the determined impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

determining the visceral fat tissue amount of the trunk based on the determined impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

28. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, comprising:

applying a current from a pair of current applying electrodes to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency,

measuring a potential difference which has occurred by the current by a pair of voltage measuring electrodes,

measuring the impedance of the trunk,

determining the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information,

determining the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk based on the determined splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

determining the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the measured impedance of the trunk and the determined impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

determining the visceral fat tissue amount of the trunk based on the determined impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

29. The The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 1, comprising:

applying a current from a pair of current applying electrodes to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency,

measuring a potential difference which has occurred by the current by a pair of voltage measuring electrodes,

measuring the impedance of the trunk,

determining the subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information,

determining the impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk based on the determined subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

determining the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information,

determining the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk based on the determined splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

determining the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the measured impedance of the trunk, the determined impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk and the determined impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

determining the visceral fat tissue amount of the trunk based on the determined impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

30. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 26 or 28, wherein the step of determining the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk is characterized by an electrical equivalent circuit of the trunk in which the impedance of the trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer is connected in parallel to a series circuit of the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk and the impedance of the trunk visceral fat tissues.

31. The trunk visceral fat measuring method of claim 26 or 28, wherein the step of determining the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk is characterized by an electrical equivalent circuit of the trunk in which the impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk and the impedance of the trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer are connected in parallel to a series circuit of the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk and the impedance of the trunk visceral fat tissues.

41. The method described in claim 1, wherein:

the current applying electrodes are disposed in the trunk circumferential direction,

one of the voltage measuring electrodes is disposed in the vicinity of one of the current applying electrodes, and

the other voltage measuring electrode is disposed at a position remote from the one of the current applying electrodes in the trunk length direction to measure the impedance of the trunk so as to determine trunk subcutaneous fat information.

42. The method described in claim 1, wherein:

a current is applied from one of the current applying electrodes to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion,

one of the voltage measuring electrodes is disposed at a position where the influence of spreading resistance right underneath the current applying electrode is predominant, and

the other voltage measuring electrode is disposed at a remote position where the influence of the spreading resistance right underneath the current applying electrode is weak to measure a potential difference between the voltage measuring electrodes so as to obtain subcutaneous fat tissue information.

43. The method described in claim 1, wherein:

a current is applied from one current applying electrode included in at least one current applying electrode pair to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion;

one voltage measuring electrode included in one voltage measuring electrode pair out of at least two voltage measuring electrode pairs is disposed at a position where the influence of spreading resistance right underneath the current applying electrode is predominant, and the other voltage measuring electrode is disposed at a remote position where the influence of the spreading resistance right underneath the current applying electrode is weak to measure a potential difference between the voltage measuring electrodes so as to obtain subcutaneous fat tissue information;

the other voltage measuring electrode pair out of at least two voltage measuring electrode pairs are disposed at a remote position where the influence of the spreading resistance right underneath the current applying electrode is weak to measure a voltage so as to obtain visceral fat tissue information; and

the one voltage measuring electrode pair and the other voltage measuring electrode pair are selected to obtain the subcutaneous fat tissue layer information and the visceral fat tissue information selectively.

44. The method described in claim 43, wherein

the subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk is determined based on the impedance of the trunk which has been determined by use of the potential difference measured by the above one voltage measuring electrode pair and body specifying information,

the impedance of trunk subcutaneous fat tissue layer is determined based on the determined subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

the skeletal muscle tissue volume of the trunk is determined based on body specifying information,

the impedance of skeletal muscle tissue layer is determined based on the determined skeletal muscle tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk is determined based on body specifying information,

the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk is determined based on the determined splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk is determined based on the impedance of the trunk which has been determined by use of the potential difference measured by the above other voltage measuring electrode pair, the determined impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk, the determined impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk and the determined impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

the visceral fat tissue amount of the trunk is determined based on the determined impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

45. The method described in claim 44, wherein the step of determining the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the impedance of the trunk, the determined impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk and the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk is characterized by an electrical equivalent circuit of the trunk in which the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk is connected in parallel to a series circuit of the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk and the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk.

46. The method described in claim 44, wherein the step of determining the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the impedance of the trunk, the determined impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk and the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk is characterized by an electrical equivalent circuit of the trunk in which the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk and the impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk are connected in parallel to a series circuit of the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk and the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk.

51. The method described in claim 1, wherein:

a pair of current applying electrodes are disposed at a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion,

at least one pair of current applying electrodes or at least one pair of voltage measuring electrodes are further disposed on the navel circumferential surface or at a position distant from the navel circumferential surface in the trunk longitudinal direction by a certain distance, internal tissue information around the navel is measured in turn by a combination of the current applying electrode pair and the voltage measuring electrode pair, and

the impedance of the trunk is measured by processing the measured informations.

52. The method described in claim 51, wherein:

the impedance of the trunk is measured,

the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk is determined based on body specifying information,

the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk is determined based on body specifying information,

the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk is determined based on the measured impedance of the trunk, the determined impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk and the determined impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

the visceral fat tissue volume of the trunk is determined based on the determined impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

53. The method described in claim 52, wherein the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk is determined based on the skeletal muscle tissue volume of the trunk which has been determined based on body specifying information and body specifying information, and the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk is determined based on the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk which has been determined based on body specifying information and body specifying information.

54. The method described in claim 52 or 53, wherein the step of determining the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the impedance of the trunk, the determined impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk and the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk is characterized by an electrical equivalent circuit of the trunk in which the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk is connected in parallel to a series circuit of the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk and the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk.

13. A trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus that comprises a pair of current applying electrodes which apply a current to at least one of a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin and a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion and a pair of voltage measuring electrodes which measure a potential difference which has occurred in the tissue through which the current has passed and that determines the visceral fat tissue amount of the trunk by use of the impedance of the trunk which has been obtained by use of the potential difference.

14. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 13, wherein the current applying electrodes are disposed in the trunk circumferential direction, and the voltage measuring electrodes are disposed at positions remote from the current applying electrodes in the trunk length direction.

15. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 13 or 14, wherein the voltage measuring electrodes measure the potential difference in a body part where the subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where the skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion.

16. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

trunk skeletal muscle tissue volume estimating means,

trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer impedance estimating means,

trunk splanchnic organ tissue impedance estimating means,

trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means, and

trunk visceral fat tissue amount estimating means, wherein

the trunk skeletal muscle tissue volume estimating means estimates a trunk skeletal muscle tissue volume based on body specifying information,

the trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer impedance estimating means estimates the impedance of trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer based on the estimated trunk skeletal muscle tissue volume and body specifying information,

the trunk splanchnic organ tissue impedance estimating means estimates the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information and estimates the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissue of the trunk based on the estimated splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

the trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means estimates the impedance of the visceral fat tissue of the trunk based on the estimated impedance of the trunk, the estimated impedance of the trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer and the estimated impedance of the splanchnic organ tissue of the trunk, and

the trunk visceral fat tissue amount estimating means estimates the visceral fat tissue amount of the trunk based on the estimated impedance of the visceral fat tissue of the trunk and body specifying information.

17. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 16, wherein the trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means estimates the trunk visceral fat tissue impedance with an electrical equivalent circuit of the trunk in which the impedance of the trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer is connected in parallel to a series circuit of the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissue of the trunk and the impedance of the trunk visceral fat tissue.

18. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 13, further comprising breathing change influence removing means for removing the influence of change caused by breathing based on the impedance of the trunk which is measured in a sampling period shorter than breathing cycle time.

19. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 13, further comprising abnormal value determination process means for performing an abnormal value determination process by comparing the measured impedance of the trunk with a general value of a group.

20. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 19, further comprising display means for displaying advice information based on the result of determination made by the abnormal value determination process means.

21. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein the trunk visceral fat tissue amount is represented by a trunk visceral fat percentage.

22. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein the trunk visceral fat tissue amount is represented by a trunk visceral fat tissue cross-sectional area.

23. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein the trunk visceral fat tissue amount is represented by a trunk visceral fat tissue volume.

24. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein the trunk visceral fat tissue amount is represented by a trunk visceral fat tissue weight.

32. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 13, comprising:

a pair of current applying electrodes which apply a current to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency and a pair of voltage measuring electrodes which measure a voltage generated by the current,

wherein the apparatus measures the impedance of the trunk at the first and second frequencies and determines the visceral fat tissue amount of the trunk by use of the measured impedances of the trunk.

33. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 13, comprising:

a pair of current applying electrodes which apply a current to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency,

a pair of voltage measuring electrodes which measure a potential difference which has occurred by the current,

trunk bioelectrical impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance of the trunk at the first and second frequencies,

trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk based on the measured impedances of the trunk, trunk splanchnic organ tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information and estimating the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk based on the estimated splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the measured impedances of the trunk, the estimated impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk and the estimated impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

trunk visceral fat tissue volume estimating means for estimating the visceral fat tissue volume of the trunk based on the estimated impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

34. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 13, comprising:

a pair of current applying electrodes which apply a current to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency,

a pair of voltage measuring electrodes which measure a potential difference which has occurred by the current,

trunk bioelectrical impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance of the trunk at the first and second frequencies,

trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk based on the measured impedances of the trunk, trunk subcutaneous fat tissue layer impedance estimating means for estimating the subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information and estimating the impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk based on the estimated subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

trunk splanchnic organ tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information and estimating the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk based on the estimated splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the measured impedances of the trunk, the estimated impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk, the estimated impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk and the estimated impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

trunk visceral fat tissue volume estimating means for estimating the visceral fat tissue volume of the trunk based on the estimated impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

35. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 13, comprising:

a pair of current applying electrodes which apply a current to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency,

a pair of voltage measuring electrodes which measure a potential difference which has occurred by the current,

trunk bioelectrical impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance of the trunk at the first and second frequencies,

trunk splanchnic organ tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information and estimating the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk based on the estimated splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the measured impedances of the trunk and the estimated impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

trunk visceral fat tissue volume estimating means for estimating the visceral fat tissue volume of the trunk based on the estimated impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

36. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus of claim 13, comprising:

a pair of current applying electrodes which apply a current to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency,

a pair of voltage measuring electrodes which measure a potential difference which has occurred by the current,

trunk bioelectrical impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance of the trunk at the first and second frequencies,

trunk subcutaneous fat tissue layer impedance estimating means for estimating the subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information and estimating the impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk based on the estimated subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

trunk splanchnic organ tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information and estimating the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk based on the estimated splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the measured impedances of the trunk, the estimated impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk and the estimated impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

trunk visceral fat tissue volume estimating means for estimating the visceral fat tissue volume of the trunk based on the estimated impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

37. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus described in claim 33 or 35, wherein the trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means makes an estimation with an electrical equivalent circuit of the trunk in which the impedance of the trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer is connected in parallel to a series circuit of the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk and the impedance of the trunk visceral fat tissues.

38. The trunk visceral fat measuring apparatus described in claim 33 or 35, wherein the trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means makes an estimation with an electrical equivalent circuit of the trunk in which the impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk and the impedance of the trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer are connected in parallel to a series circuit of the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk and the impedance of the trunk visceral fat tissues.

39. The trunk skeletal muscle volume measuring apparatus of claim 13 comprising:

a pair of current applying electrodes which apply a current to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency and a pair of voltage measuring electrodes which measure a potential difference which has occurred by the current,

wherein the apparatus measures the impedance of the trunk at the first and second frequencies and determines the skeletal muscle tissue volume of the trunk by use of the measured impedances of the trunk.

40. The trunk skeletal muscle volume measuring apparatus of claim 13 comprising:

a pair of current applying electrodes which apply a current to a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion at first frequency and second frequency which is higher than the first frequency,

a pair of voltage measuring electrodes which measure a potential difference which has occurred by the current,

trunk bioelectrical impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance of the trunk at the first and second frequencies,

trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk based on the impedances measured at the first and second frequencies, and

trunk skeletal muscle tissue volume estimating means for estimating a trunk skeletal muscle tissue volume based on the estimated impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk and body specifying information.

47. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising a pair of current applying electrodes disposed in the trunk circumferential direction, and voltage measuring electrodes one of which is disposed in the vicinity of one of the current applying electrodes and the other of which is disposed at a position remote from the one of the current applying electrodes in the trunk length direction, for determining trunk subcutaneous fat information by measuring the impedance of the trunk.

48. The apparatus described in claim 13, wherein:

one of the current applying electrodes applies a current to a body part where subcutaneous fat is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion, and the other current applying electrode applies a current to a body part where subcutaneous fat is thick;

one of the voltage measuring electrodes is disposed at a position where the influence of spreading resistance right underneath the current applying electrode is predominant, and

the other voltage measuring electrode is disposed at a remote position where the influence of the spreading resistance right underneath the current applying electrode is weak to measure a potential difference between the voltage measuring electrodes so as to obtain subcutaneous fat tissue information.

49. The apparatus described in claim 13, wherein:

one current applying electrode included in at least one current applying electrode pair applies a current to a body part where subcutaneous fat is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion, and the other current applying electrode applies a current to a body part where subcutaneous fat is thick;

one voltage measuring electrode included in one voltage measuring electrode pair out of at least two voltage measuring electrode pairs is disposed at a position where the influence of spreading resistance right underneath the current applying electrode is predominant, and the other voltage measuring electrode is disposed at a remote position where the influence of the spreading resistance right underneath the current applying electrode is weak to measure a potential difference between the voltage measuring electrodes so as to obtain subcutaneous fat tissue information;

the other voltage measuring electrode pair out of at least two voltage measuring electrode pairs are disposed at a remote position where the influence of the spreading resistance right underneath the current applying electrode is weak to measure a potential difference so as to obtain visceral fat tissue information; and

a switching device for selecting the one voltage measuring electrode pair and the other voltage measuring electrode pair to obtain the subcutaneous fat tissue information and the visceral fat tissue information selectively is further provided.

50. The apparatus described in claim 49 further comprising:

trunk subcutaneous fat tissue volume estimating means for estimating the subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk based on the impedance of the trunk which has been determined by use of the potential difference measured by the above one voltage measuring electrode pair and body specifying information,

trunk subcutaneous fat tissue volume estimating means for estimating the subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk based on the estimated subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

trunk subcutaneous fat tissue layer impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the subcutaneous fat tissue layer of the trunk based on the estimated subcutaneous fat tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

trunk splanchnic organ tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information and estimating the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk based on the estimated splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information,

trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the estimated impedance of the trunk, the estimated impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk and the estimated impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

trunk visceral fat tissue volume estimating means for estimating the visceral fat tissue volume of the trunk based on the estimated impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

55. The apparatus described in claim 13, comprising:

a pair of current applying electrodes disposed at a body part where a subcutaneous fat tissue layer is thin or a body part where a skeletal muscle tissue layer has no or a thin muscle belly portion,

at least one pair of current applying electrodes or at least one pair of voltage measuring electrodes which are disposed on the navel circumferential surface or at a position distant from the navel circumferential surface in the trunk longitudinal direction by a certain distance, and means for measuring internal tissue information around the navel in turn by a combination of the current applying electrode pair and the voltage measuring electrode pair and measuring the impedance of the trunk by processing the measured informations.

56. The apparatus described in claim 55 further comprising:

trunk bioelectrical impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance of the trunk,

trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk based on body specifying information,

trunk splanchnic organ tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk based on body specifying information,

trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means for estimating the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk based on the measured impedance of the trunk, the estimated impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk and the estimated impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk, and

trunk visceral fat tissue volume estimating means for estimating the visceral fat tissue volume of the trunk based on the estimated impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk and body specifying information.

57. The apparatus described in claim 56, wherein the trunk skeletal muscle tissue layer impedance estimating means estimates the skeletal muscle tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information and estimate the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk based on the estimated skeletal muscle tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information, and

the trunk splanchnic organ tissue impedance estimating means estimates the splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk based on body specifying information and estimating the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk based on the estimated splanchnic organ tissue volume of the trunk and body specifying information.

58. The apparatus described in claim 56 or 57, wherein the trunk visceral fat tissue impedance estimating means makes an estimation with an electrical equivalent circuit of the trunk in which the impedance of the skeletal muscle tissue layer of the trunk is connected in parallel to a series circuit of the impedance of the splanchnic organ tissues of the trunk and the impedance of the visceral fat tissues of the trunk.