Component determination device, component determination method, and program

Abstract

To provide an ingredient determination device, ingredient determination method and program, which enable appropriate determination of nutritional ingredients according to the health condition of a user.SOLUTION: A method of determining nutritional ingredients of food and beverages provided to a user implemented by an ingredient determination device in a body composition measurement device having a generation device including the ingredient determination device is provided, the method comprising acquiring a muscle index indicative of a degree of muscle mass of the user and a fat index indicative of a degree of fat mass of the user (S1), and determining the nutritional ingredients on the basis of the muscle index and the fat index (S2).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a component determination device, a component determination method, and a program for determining the nutritional components of food and drink provided to a user.

Background Art

[0002] JP2004 - 272618A discloses a system that, when a user's symptoms are input to input means, refers to data indicating the nutrients required for each symptom and data indicating the nutrients contained in each supplement, and determines a supplement that can improve the user's symptoms.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] However, since the above - mentioned system is configured to determine supplements according to the user's subjective symptoms or purposes, the inventors recognized that even among people who inherently require different nutritional components for their bodies, if they are people with the same kind of thinking or feeling, the same kind of supplements will be provided. The inventors also recognized that there is a concern that in such a system, food and drink having the same kind of nutritional components may be provided to users with different health states.

[0004] The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a component determination device, a component determination method, and a program that accurately determine nutritional components according to the health state of a user.

[0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, a component determination device for determining the nutritional components of food and drink provided to a user includes an acquisition means for acquiring a muscle index indicating the degree of the user's muscle mass and a fat index indicating the degree of the user's fat mass, and a determination means for determining the nutritional components based on the muscle index and the fat index.

[0006] According to this embodiment, by using two indicators of body composition that have low correlation with each other, which tend to reflect the user's health condition, it is possible to accurately determine the nutritional components according to the user's health condition. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an overview of the nutritional food provision system in the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a component determination device provided in the generation apparatus. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of body type classification based on the user's muscle and fat index. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the nutrients necessary for managing each body type. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a body shape management table that identifies the ratios of multiple nutrients associated with each body type. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the method for calculating the amount of nutritional compensation based on the user's target body shape in the second embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a target body shape compensation table that identifies the amount of nutritional compensation needed based on a target vector from the user's current body shape to their target body shape. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows an example of a display image representing the appearance of a user who has achieved their target body shape. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows an example of a lifestyle-related disease prevention table that identifies nutritional components that prevent health risks in the third embodiment. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of how supplements can be provided to users. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for determining nutritional components in this embodiment. [Figure 12]Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the component determination process included in the method shown in Figure 11. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0009] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the external appearance of the nutritional food supply system 100 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] The nutritional food provision system 100 is a system that provides food and beverages containing one or more nutritional components according to the user's health condition. Examples of food and beverages containing nutritional components include vegetable salads, snacks, and juices, and in this embodiment, nutritional supplements are provided as food and beverages.

[0011] The nutritional food distribution system 100 is installed in places such as pharmacies, fitness clubs, and public baths. The nutritional food distribution system 100 includes a body composition measuring device 10 that measures the body composition of users, and a generating device 20 that generates supplements based on the measurement results from the body composition measuring device 10.

[0012] The body composition measuring device 10 includes a power switch 1 for supplying power to the body composition measuring device 10, a weight measuring unit 2 for measuring the weight of a user standing on the platform surface 2a of the body composition measuring device 10, and electrode units 3 and 4 positioned on the platform surface 2a of the body composition measuring device 10 for measuring the bioelectrical impedance of the user. Furthermore, the body composition measuring device 10 includes handles 15 and 16 for the user to grasp, electrode units 5 and 6 positioned on handles 15 and 16 respectively, a display operation device 7, a communication device 8, and a printing device 9.

[0013] On the platform surface 2a of the body composition measuring device 10, there is an electrode section 3 that contacts the right foot of the user standing on the platform surface 2a, and an electrode section 4 that contacts the left foot of the user standing on the platform surface 2a. Furthermore, a handle 15 that the user can grasp with their right hand and a handle 16 that the user can grasp with their left hand are installed on the body composition measuring device 10. The handle 15 is equipped with an electrode section 5 that contacts the user's right hand when grasped with the right hand, and the handle 16 is equipped with an electrode section 6 that contacts the user's left hand when grasped with the left hand. Electrode sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 each have two electrodes, one of which is a current application electrode (hereinafter also referred to as a current electrode), and the other is a voltage measurement electrode (hereinafter also referred to as a voltage electrode).

[0014] The body composition measuring device 10 determines two of the four current electrodes using a current application path determination unit (not shown), and applies current between the two current electrodes determined by the current application path determination unit using a current application unit (not shown). As a result, current flows through the path in the user's body formed by the two current electrodes determined by the current application path determination unit.

[0015] The body composition measuring device 10 then determines two of the four voltage electrodes using a measurement electrode determination unit (not shown), and detects the voltage drop between the two voltage electrodes determined by the measurement electrode determination unit using a voltage detection unit (not shown). At this time, the measurement electrode determination unit determines the two voltage electrodes such that at least a portion of the path in the user's body formed by the two current electrodes determined by the current application path determination unit is included in the path in the user's body formed by the two voltage electrodes.

[0016] The body composition measuring device 10 calculates impedance from the current value output by the current application unit and the voltage value detected by the voltage detection unit using an impedance calculation unit (not shown). In other words, the body composition measuring device 10 calculates the impedance of the portion of the user's body where the paths formed by the two current electrodes and the paths formed by the two voltage electrodes overlap.

[0017] Thus, in order to measure the impedance of an arbitrary part of the user's body, the body composition measuring device 10 determines two appropriate current electrodes and two voltage electrodes by using a current application path determination unit and a measurement electrode determination unit. Then, the body composition measuring device 10 calculates the impedance of an arbitrary part by using a current application unit and a voltage detection unit.

[0018] The display operation device 7 receives the input of the user's basic biological information by the user's input operation, or displays the measurement result of the body composition to the user. Examples of the basic biological information include the user's height, age, gender, and the like. The display operation device 7 is configured by, for example, a touch panel type or a push button type liquid crystal display device.

[0019] The communication device 8 communicates with the generation device 20 or an external terminal not shown. For example, the communication device 8 communicates with the generation device 20 or an external terminal via short-range wireless communication or a mobile phone network. The communication device 8 of the present embodiment transmits the measurement result of the user to the generation device 20, or receives biological data including the past measurement results of the user from the external terminal.

[0020] Thus, the body composition measuring device 10 measures the user's weight and the biological impedance of each part such as the user's right foot, left foot, right arm, and left arm, and applies these measured values to a predetermined regression line or regression formula to calculate the user's body composition.

[0021] Examples of the user's body composition include the fat percentage, fat mass, fat-free mass, visceral fat mass, visceral fat level, visceral fat area, subcutaneous fat mass, muscle mass, bone mass, body water percentage, body water mass, intracellular fluid volume, and extracellular fluid volume of the whole body and each part.

[0022] The body composition measuring device 10 transmits the body composition information indicating each numerical value of the calculated body composition to the generation device 20 as the measurement result of the user. However, the body composition measuring device 10 may transmit the BMI (Body Mass Index), which is a physical fitness index, and the basal metabolic rate calculated from the above-mentioned body composition together.

[0023] The generating device 20 comprises multiple containers 21, each containing supplement materials. The generating device 20 extracts an arbitrary amount of supplement materials from each container 21 and produces supplement 21a by blending the extracted supplement materials. By containing supplement materials with different nutritional components in each container 21, the generating device 20 can adjust the nutritional components contained in supplement 21a.

[0024] In this embodiment, the generating device 20 includes a component determination device 30 that determines the nutritional components necessary for the user's body according to the user's internal health condition, and places a supplement 21a, which is composed of one or more supplement materials, on the dish 22 according to the nutritional components determined by the component determination device 30.

[0025] For example, the generating device 20 stores nutritional data related to the supplement materials. This nutritional data shows, for each container 21, the components contained in the supplement materials and the amount of each component per unit weight of the supplement materials. In this case, when the generating device 20 receives instructions from the component determination device 30 regarding the nutritional components and their amounts, it refers to the nutritional data, extracts the required amount of supplement materials from each of the five containers 21, and produces supplement 21a by blending them.

[0026] Alternatively, the nutritional data described above may only show the components contained in the supplement material for each container 21. In this case, when the generating device 20 receives instructions for nutritional components from the component determination device 30, it refers to the nutritional data and extracts a certain amount of supplement material containing the instructed nutritional components from the five containers 21. The component determination device 30 then produces the supplement 21a by blending the extracted supplement material.

[0027] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the component determination device 30 in this embodiment.

[0028] The component determination device 30 is a computer that performs component determination processing to determine the nutrients that should be supplied to the user's body and the amount of those nutrients based on the user's body composition information. The component determination processing performed by the component determination device 30 will be referred to as the supplement determination processing below.

[0029] The component determination device 30 includes an operation unit 110, a body composition information acquisition unit 120, a body shape data storage unit 130, a display unit 140, a nutritional component determination unit 150, a nutritional component command unit 160, a storage unit 170, and a control unit 180.

[0030] The operation unit 110 consists of a touch sensor, a push button, or a dial, and constitutes a means for receiving user input operations. The operation unit 110 accepts operations such as switching the power switch of the generating device 20 ON or OFF, or operations such as directly specifying a supplement.

[0031] In this embodiment, the operation unit 110 receives an operation from the user to instruct the execution of the supplement determination process. The operation unit 110 can also receive an operation to input basic biological information or body composition information necessary for the supplement determination process. Furthermore, the operation unit 110 receives an operation to input target body type information indicating the target body type that the user aims for. The target body type information may be received from the body composition information acquisition unit 120 after being received by the body composition measurement device 10.

[0032] The body composition information acquisition unit 120 acquires body composition information, such as the user's body composition including fat, bone, muscle, and water content, in order to identify the user's lifestyle habits, which are the user's daily habits. The body composition information acquisition unit 120 in this embodiment constitutes an acquisition means that acquires a fat index indicating the user's fat content and a muscle index indicating the user's muscle mass from the user's body composition information.

[0033] The fat and muscle indicators mentioned above are used to identify the user's body type. The fat indicator is an index that shows the proportion of fat in the body, and examples include the fat percentage, fat mass, or subcutaneous fat mass for the whole body or individual body parts, or the visceral fat mass, visceral fat level, or visceral fat area. In this embodiment, the whole body fat percentage is used as the fat indicator.

[0034] Muscle indicators are indicators that show muscle mass or correlate with muscle mass, and have a low correlation with fat indicators. Examples of muscle indicators include muscle mass, lean body mass, or bone mass for the whole body or individual body parts, or BMI or basal metabolic rate. In this embodiment, the muscle mass score obtained by dividing the total muscle mass by height is used as the muscle indicator.

[0035] The body composition information acquisition unit 120 receives the user's body composition information from the body composition measuring device 10, a mobile terminal owned by the user, or an external device such as a management server that manages the user's body composition information. The body composition information acquisition unit 120 may acquire the user's body composition information from the operation unit 110, or it may acquire the user's body composition information from an external device such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory.

[0036] The body composition information acquisition unit 120 may receive the user's weight and bioelectrical impedance of each body part from the body composition measuring device 10 and generate body composition information based on these measurements. Thus, the body composition information acquisition unit 120 is composed of a communication circuit, an interface circuit, or a body composition calculation circuit, etc.

[0037] The body shape data storage unit 130 stores body shape data that shows the relationship between the values ​​of the fat index and the muscle index for each predetermined body shape type. Each body shape type shown in the body shape data is associated with the nutrients and their amounts that are necessary for the healthy management of the body shape of users belonging to that body shape type.

[0038] Healthy management of body shape as described above means changing the user's body shape to reduce the likelihood of health problems if their current body shape is likely to be harmful (for example, if they have too much or too little fat or muscle). It also means maintaining the body shape if the user already has a body shape that is unlikely to be harmful.

[0039] For example, the body shape data storage unit 130 stores body shape data generated for each age and gender. This makes it possible to classify the user's body shape into a body shape type appropriate for their age and gender. Details of the body shape types will be described later with reference to Figure 3, and details of the nutritional components necessary for managing the user's body shape will be described later with reference to Figure 4.

[0040] The display unit 140 is comprised of, for example, a touch panel or push-button type liquid crystal display device. The display unit 140 displays supplements that can be provided to the user, or displays a screen that allows the user to select whether or not the above-mentioned supplement selection process is necessary.

[0041] For example, when the operation unit 110 receives an operation to instruct the execution of the supplement determination process, the display unit 140 displays the user's body type or the body type to which the user's body type belongs from among the predetermined body type types, based on the user's body composition information. Furthermore, when the operation unit 110 receives an input operation for target body type information, the display unit 140 displays the target body type that the user aims for, or the body type to which the target body type belongs from among the predetermined body type types, based on that target body type information.

[0042] The nutrition component determination unit 150 constitutes a determination means for determining the nutritional components necessary for the user's body based on fat index and muscle index that identify the user's body type. Specifically, the nutrition component determination unit 150 determines only the types of nutritional components necessary for the user's body, or the types and amounts of nutritional components, based on the user's fat index and muscle index.

[0043] The nutrition component determination unit 150 of this embodiment calculates the nutritional components necessary for managing the user's body shape based on the user's fat index and muscle index. The nutrition component determination unit 150 comprises a body shape selection unit 151, a nutritional component calculation unit 152, and a target body shape compensation unit 153.

[0044] The body type selection unit 151 selects a body type to which the user's body type belongs from a predetermined range of body type types based on the user's fat index and muscle index. In this embodiment, when the body type selection unit 151 obtains the user's fat index and muscle index from the body composition information acquisition unit 120, it refers to the body type data storage unit 130 and selects the body type associated with each of the acquired values ​​as the user's body type.

[0045] The nutrient calculation unit 152, based on the user's body type selected by the body type selection unit 151, refers to the body type data storage unit 130 and calculates the nutrient components and their amounts associated with that user's body type. The nutrient calculation unit 152 outputs component determination information indicating the amount of those nutrient components to the nutrient command unit 160.

[0046] When the target body shape compensation unit 153 obtains the user's target body shape information from the operation unit 110, it compensates for the nutritional components necessary to achieve the target body shape based on that target body shape information. In this embodiment, the target body shape compensation unit 153 determines the degree of deviation between the user's body shape and the target body shape based on the target body shape information, and compensates for the nutritional components and their amounts necessary to reduce that degree of deviation based on that degree of deviation. The target body shape compensation unit 153 outputs nutritional compensation information, which indicates the amount of the nutritional components to be compensated, to the nutritional component command unit 160 as component determination information.

[0047] The nutrient component command unit 160 selects a container 21 to contain the supplement material having the nutrient component indicated in the component determination information from the nutrient component determination unit 150. Furthermore, the nutrient component command unit 160 instructs the number of supplement materials for each selected container 21 based on the amount of the nutrient component indicated in the component determination information. As a result, the supplement 21a produced by the generating device 20 is provided to the dish 22, as shown in Figure 1.

[0048] The storage unit 170 is composed of non-volatile memory (ROM; Read Only Memory) and volatile memory (RAM; Random Access Memory), etc. The storage unit 170 stores a control program for controlling the component determination device 30. In other words, the storage unit 170 is a recording medium that stores a program that realizes the functions of this embodiment.

[0049] The control unit 180 consists of a central processing unit (CPU), an input / output interface, and a bus connecting them to each other. The control unit 180 controls each part of the component determination device 30 via the input / output interface by reading a control program stored in the memory unit 170 and having the CPU execute it.

[0050] As described above, the control unit 180 controls the operation unit 110, the body composition information acquisition unit 120, the body shape data storage unit 130, the display unit 140, the nutritional component determination unit 150, the nutritional component command unit 160, and the storage unit 170. Alternatively, the CPU constituting the control unit 180 may execute the functions of each component of the component determination device 30.

[0051] Furthermore, the processing of each part other than the control unit 180 may be implemented entirely or partially by dedicated hardware such as an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). Thus, the processing of each part of the component determination device 30 can be implemented by software (program) or hardware, and may be implemented by a combination of software and hardware.

[0052] Next, we will explain the method for determining a user's body type based on their fat and muscle mass indicators, referring to Figure 3.

[0053] Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of body shape data held in the body shape data holding unit 130.

[0054] In this example, the horizontal axis represents the muscle mass score (MM / H) as a muscle indicator, and the vertical axis represents the fat percentage (FAT / Wt) as a fat indicator. The muscle mass score is the ratio of muscle mass (MM) to height (H), and the fat percentage is the ratio of total body fat (FAT) to body weight (Wt).

[0055] As shown in Figure 3, users' body types are classified according to their body fat percentage. In this example, three ranges are set for body fat percentage: an "average" range, a "lower" range, and a "higher" range. The "average" range is predetermined based on statistical or group data on the body fat percentages of multiple individuals.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in addition to body fat percentage, users' body types are classified according to their muscle mass score. In this example, three ranges are set for the muscle mass score: an "average" range, a "lower" range relative to that range, and a "higher" range. The "average" range for the muscle mass score is predetermined, similar to body fat percentage, based on statistical data or group data on the muscle mass scores of multiple people.

[0057] Furthermore, for users with a low body fat percentage and a low, average, or high muscle mass score, body type categories such as "skinny," "lean and muscular," and "very muscular" are associated with their body type data.

[0058] Similarly, for body fat percentages within the average range and muscle mass scores, body type data is associated with "inactive," "normal," and "muscular," respectively. Furthermore, for body fat percentages in the higher range and muscle mass scores, body type data is associated with "hidden obesity," "obese," and "solidly built," respectively.

[0059] Therefore, the body type selection unit 151 can select a body type from among the nine body type types that corresponds to the user's body fat percentage and muscle mass score by referring to the body type data described above.

[0060] In this way, by classifying users' body types using not only body fat percentage, which is easily influenced by lifestyle habits, but also a muscle mass score that has a low correlation with that fat percentage, it becomes less likely for users' body types to be biased towards a single body type, and a more detailed classification can be achieved.

[0061] Next, the method for determining the nutritional components necessary for the user's body will be explained with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

[0062] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the trends in the nutrients and their amounts necessary for healthily managing a user's body shape, according to the body type shown in Figure 3.

[0063] First, we will explain the nutritional components and their amounts selected according to the fat percentage.

[0064] If a user's body fat percentage falls within the "high" range shown in Figure 3, a fat accumulation-inhibiting component, as shown in Figure 4, is selected to suppress the increase in body fat percentage. The higher the body fat percentage, the greater the amount of the selected fat accumulation-inhibiting component.

[0065] The aforementioned fat accumulation inhibiting components are nutrients necessary to suppress (inhibit) fat accumulation. These components include, for example, at least one of the following: a carbohydrate absorption inhibiting component that suppresses the absorption of carbohydrates, and a lipid absorption inhibiting component that suppresses the absorption of lipids. Examples of carbohydrate absorption inhibiting and lipid absorption inhibiting components include dietary fiber. Furthermore, fat accumulation inhibiting components may also include fat burning components that promote fat burning; an example of such a fat burning component is allicin.

[0066] If a user's body fat percentage falls within the "average" range shown in Figure 3, the metabolic activating and skin-soothing ingredients shown in Figure 4 are selected to maintain a healthy body shape for users within this range. Metabolic activating ingredients are nutrients necessary for activating metabolism, such as L-carnitine. Skin-soothing ingredients are nutrients necessary for preventing skin problems, such as vitamin C.

[0067] If a user's body fat percentage falls within the "low" range shown in Figure 3, the vitality-activating ingredients shown in Figure 4 are selected to alleviate symptoms common in users within this range. Furthermore, the lower the body fat percentage, the greater the amount of the selected vitality-activating ingredient.

[0068] The aforementioned vitality-activating components are nutrients necessary to suppress the decline of vitality, and are particularly prone to deficiencies in people with low body fat. These vitality-activating components include, for example, at least one nutrient from among anti-fatigue components that reduce fatigue and anti-aging components that maintain youthfulness. Examples of anti-fatigue components include citric acid, vitamin C, and B vitamins, while examples of anti-aging components include vitamin E and coenzyme Q10.

[0069] In the example shown in Figure 4, the amount of fat accumulation-inhibiting ingredients is increased as the user's body fat percentage increases from the standard value determined by the mean, median, or mode of a person's body fat percentage. Conversely, the amount of anti-aging and anti-fatigue ingredients is increased as the user's body fat percentage decreases from the standard value. Furthermore, skin-soothing and anti-aging ingredients are added regardless of the user's body fat percentage.

[0070] In this way, based on the user's body fat percentage, the nutrients and their amounts necessary for managing the user's body shape are determined from among fat accumulation inhibitory ingredients, metabolism activating ingredients, skin roughness prevention ingredients, anti-aging ingredients, and anti-fatigue ingredients.

[0071] Next, we will explain the nutritional components and their amounts, which are determined according to the muscle mass score.

[0072] If a user's muscle mass score falls within the "low" range shown in Figure 3, the muscle-building components shown in Figure 4 are selected to suppress further muscle loss in users within this range. The lower the muscle mass score, the greater the amount of the selected muscle-building component. The muscle-building components referred to here are nutrients necessary for increasing muscle mass, mainly leucine, etc.

[0073] If a user's muscle mass score falls within the "high" range shown in Figure 3, the muscle-health-promoting components shown in Figure 4 are selected to maintain the health of the user's muscles within this range. Furthermore, the higher the muscle mass score, the greater the amount of the selected muscle-health-promoting components.

[0074] The aforementioned muscle-health-promoting components are nutrients necessary for maintaining healthy muscles. These components include metabolism-promoting components that accelerate muscle metabolism, with vitamins being the main example. Muscle metabolism, in this context, refers to the process of repairing muscle damage that occurs when muscle fibers are broken down due to training or other factors, i.e., accelerating the repair process. In this way, muscle growth (muscle hypertrophy) occurs through repeated destruction and repair of muscle fibers.

[0075] If a user's muscle mass score falls within the "average" range shown in Figure 3, the amount of muscle-health-promoting components is adjusted according to the muscle mass score to maintain the user's muscle mass within this range. Specifically, the higher the muscle mass score, the greater the amount of muscle-health-promoting components, and the lower the muscle mass score, the greater the amount of muscle-health-promoting components.

[0076] In this way, based on the user's muscle mass score, the nutrients and their amounts necessary for the user's body shape management are determined from among the muscle-building and muscle-health-promoting components.

[0077] Figure 5 shows an example of a body type management table 131 that illustrates the relationship between the user's body type and the amount of nutrients it contains.

[0078] As shown in Figure 5, the body shape management table 131 associates the ratio of the nutrients necessary to manage the body shape of users belonging to each body shape type shown in the body shape table with the amount of those nutrients. A ratio of 2 means the amount of nutrients is normal, a ratio of 3 means the amount of nutrients is higher than normal, and a ratio of 1 means the amount of nutrients is lower than normal.

[0079] For example, in the "hidden obesity" category of Body Shape Management Table 131, the ratio of fat accumulation inhibitory components to vitality-activating components is set to "3:1" for fat, and the ratio of muscle-increasing components to muscle-health-promoting components is also set to "3:1" for muscle.

[0080] On the other hand, in the "Standard" setting of Body Shape Management Table 131, the ratio of fat accumulation inhibitory components to vitality-activating components is set to "2:2" for fat, and the ratio of muscle-increasing components to muscle-health-promoting components is also set to "2:2" for muscle.

[0081] Thus, in the body shape management table 131, as the user's body fat percentage increases, the amount of fat accumulation inhibiting components increases while the amount of vitality-activating components decreases. On the other hand, as the user's body fat percentage decreases, the amount of fat accumulation inhibiting components decreases while the amount of vitality-activating components increases.

[0082] In addition, as the user's muscle mass score increases, the amount of muscle-building components increases while the amount of muscle-increasing components decreases. Conversely, as the user's muscle mass score decreases, the amount of muscle-building components decreases while the amount of muscle-increasing components increases.

[0083] Therefore, by using the body shape management table 131, the nutrition component calculation unit 152 can appropriately calculate the amount of nutrients necessary for managing the user's body shape, according to the user's body shape type.

[0084] For example, if the nutritional component calculation unit 152 determines that the user's body type belongs to the "lack of exercise" type, it identifies the ratio of fat accumulation suppression components to vitality activation components, and the ratio of muscle growth components to muscle health improvement components as nutritional components associated with "lack of exercise" in the body type management table 131.

[0085] In Figure 5, the ratio of fat accumulation-inhibiting components to vitality-activating components is "2:2," so the nutrient calculation unit 152 sets predetermined base amounts for both components. Furthermore, since the ratio of muscle-increasing components to muscle-health-promoting components is "3:1," the nutrient calculation unit 152 calculates the amount of muscle-increasing components by multiplying the predetermined base amount by 1.5, and calculates the amount of muscle-health-promoting components by multiplying that base amount by 0.5.

[0086] In this example, the body shape management table 131 selected fat accumulation inhibitory components, vitality-activating components, muscle-increasing components, and muscle-health-promoting components as necessary nutrients for body shape management. However, metabolic activation components and skin-soothing components may also be added to each body shape. Alternatively, the selected nutrients may be formulated so that metabolic activation components and skin-soothing components are the main components.

[0087] Next, the effects and advantages of the first embodiment will be described in detail.

[0088] According to the first embodiment, the component determination device 30 for determining the nutritional components to be incorporated into food and beverages includes a body composition information acquisition unit 120 as an acquisition means for acquiring a muscle index indicating the degree of muscle mass of the user and a fat index indicating the degree of fat mass of the user.

[0089] Examples of foods and beverages containing nutritional components include supplements, beverages, snacks, or vegetable salads. Furthermore, muscle indicators include, for example, BMI, muscle mass of the whole body or a specific body part, the ratio of muscle mass to height, bone mass of the whole body or a specific body part, lean body mass, or basal metabolic rate. Fat indicators include, for example, the fat percentage of the whole body or a specific body part, and the ratio of fat mass to body weight.

[0090] The component determination device 30 includes a nutrient component determination unit 150 as a determination means for determining the nutritional components necessary for the user's body based on the acquired values ​​of the user's muscle index and fat index.

[0091] The muscle and fat indexes mentioned above are objective indicators that represent the health status of the main components that make up the body. By using these, it is possible to accurately determine the nutrients that are objectively necessary for the user's body while eliminating subjective bias.

[0092] Furthermore, muscle and fat indexes are indicators that easily reflect the influence of the user's lifestyle, and by using them, it is possible to identify the internal health state that has been formed over a long period of time. Therefore, by understanding the fundamental symptoms in the body that reflect the user's lifestyle, it becomes possible to provide nutrients that are highly important for the user's body.

[0093] In addition, since the muscle and fat indexes of the user obtained by the body composition information acquisition unit 120 have a low correlation with each other, it becomes possible to understand the user's internal health status in detail from different perspectives. Therefore, it is possible to precisely determine the nutrients necessary for the user's body.

[0094] Thus, according to this embodiment, by using two indicators of body composition that have low correlation with each other, which tend to reflect the user's internal health condition, it is possible to accurately determine the nutritional components according to the user's health condition.

[0095] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the nutrient determination unit 150 calculates the nutrients necessary to manage the user's body shape based on the user's muscle index and fat index. In this way, by identifying the user's body shape based on the user's muscle index and fat index, the nutrients necessary for managing the user's body shape can be determined, allowing for the incorporation of nutrients into food and beverages that take into account the user's lifestyle. In addition, by changing the amount of the determined nutrients according to the user's body shape, a more precise formulation can be achieved.

[0096] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the component determination device 30 further includes a body shape data holding unit 130 as a holding means for associating and holding the nutritional components necessary for managing the user's body shape for each predetermined body shape type as shown in Figure 3.

[0097] Furthermore, the nutrition component determination unit 150 includes a body type selection unit 151 as a selection means for selecting the body type to which the user's body type belongs from among predetermined body type types based on the user's muscle index and fat index. In addition, the nutrition component determination unit 150 includes a nutrition component calculation unit 152 as a calculation means for calculating nutrition components associated with the user's body type, by referring to the body type data holding unit 130 based on the user's body type selected by the body type selection unit 151.

[0098] The user's body type, identified by muscle and fat index data, is shaped by the user's lifestyle. Therefore, by calculating the amount of nutrients necessary to manage the user's selected body type, it is possible to determine the appropriate nutrients and their amounts for that body type. Consequently, it becomes possible to provide users with nutrients that take into account the body type shaped by their lifestyle.

[0099] Furthermore, since the user's body type is determined based on two indicators with low correlation, it becomes easier to assign different body types to a large number of users. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation where the same nutritional components are provided to each individual user.

[0100] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the nutritional components incorporated into food and beverages include a fat accumulation inhibitory component that suppresses the accumulation of fat and a vitality-activating component that revitalizes the vitality of the user. Examples of fat accumulation inhibitory components include absorption inhibitory components that suppress the absorption of at least one of carbohydrates and lipids, and examples of vitality-activating components include at least one of an anti-fatigue component that reduces fatigue and an anti-aging component that maintains youthfulness.

[0101] The nutritional component determination unit 150 then determines the amount of the fat accumulation-inhibiting component and decreases the vitality-activating component as the fat index increases.

[0102] This allows us to provide users with a higher body fat percentage than the average person with the necessary nutrients to suppress fat accumulation. On the other hand, people with a low body fat percentage generally tend to tire easily and age prematurely. Therefore, we can reduce the amount of anti-fatigue and anti-aging nutrients for users with a high body fat percentage, and increase the amount of anti-fatigue and anti-aging nutrients for users with a low body fat percentage.

[0103] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the nutritional components used in food and beverages include muscle-health-promoting components that maintain healthy muscles and muscle-increasing components that increase muscle mass. Examples of muscle-health-promoting components include metabolism-promoting components that accelerate muscle metabolism. The nutritional component determination unit 150 increases the amount of muscle-health-promoting components and decreases the amount of muscle-increasing components among the nutritional components as the muscle index increases.

[0104] This allows for the formulation of appropriate nutrients for muscle management, as it increases muscle-building components for users with more muscle mass than the average person, while decreasing less necessary muscle-building components.

[0105] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the muscle index used is the user's muscle mass or a parameter correlated with that muscle mass, and the fat index used is the user's body fat percentage. The parameter correlated with muscle mass is a calculation result derived from body composition information, and examples of such parameters include internal indices such as metabolic rate, bone mass, or body water content.

[0106] Thus, by using the fat percentage, which indicates the proportion of fat in the body, as a fat index, the relationship between the amount of fat and the overall size of the user's body, such as height or weight, can be identified, making it possible to accurately determine the nutrients the user's body needs. Furthermore, as a muscle index, it is possible to use an index calculated based on muscle mass instead of muscle mass itself, and even when such an index is used, it is possible to classify the user's body type in detail, just as with muscle mass.

[0107] In the embodiments described above, an example of determining the nutritional components necessary for managing the user's body shape was explained, but additional nutritional components may be added to help the user achieve their target (ideal) body shape.

[0108] (Second Embodiment) Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, an example will be described in which, in addition to the nutritional components determined in the first embodiment, compensatory nutritional components that compensate for these nutritional components are further incorporated into the supplement. In this example, the compensatory nutritional components included in the supplement are the nutritional components necessary for the user to achieve their target body shape.

[0109] Since the basic configuration of the component determination device of this embodiment is the same as that of the component determination device 30 of the first embodiment, the following description will use the same reference numerals as those used for the component determination device 30 shown in Figure 2.

[0110] Figure 6 shows an example of a display image 141 showing the user's body type Bu and target body type Bt. The user's body type Bu indicates the user's current body type, as selected by the body type selection unit 151 shown in Figure 2.

[0111] The displayed image 141 consists of a body fat percentage determination area 141a that shows the result of determining the user's body fat percentage, a muscle mass determination area 141b that shows the result of determining the user's muscle mass score, and a body type display area 141c that shows the user's body type.

[0112] In the body fat percentage determination area 141a, the criteria for determining body fat percentage are shown as follows: "high," "average," and "low," based on the average body fat percentage, in descending order of body fat percentage.

[0113] In the muscle mass determination area 141b, the criteria for determining the muscle mass score are shown, with the average value of the muscle mass score as the center, and the categories of "low," "average," and "high" shown in descending order of muscle mass.

[0114] The body type display area 141c shows nine body types identified by two indicators: the user's body fat percentage and muscle mass score. Body types whose muscle mass score falls within the "low" range are assigned the following body types in descending order of body fat percentage: "hidden obesity," "lack of exercise," and "thin."

[0115] Body types with a muscle mass score in the "average" range are assigned the following body types in descending order of fat percentage: "obese," "normal," and "lean and muscular." Furthermore, body types with a muscle mass score in the "high" range are assigned the following body types in descending order of fat percentage: "solidly fat," "muscular," and "very muscular."

[0116] In this example, the body type selection unit 151 determines that the user's body type Bu belongs to the "lack of exercise" body type category. Then, the nutrient component calculation unit 152 selects the types of nutrients necessary to manage the health status of a person whose body type falls under the "lack of exercise" category, and calculates the amount of those nutrients.

[0117] In addition to the calculation process for the nutritional components and their amounts described above, this embodiment further performs a calculation process for the nutritional components and their amounts necessary to achieve the user's target body shape Bt. That is, in this embodiment, compensatory nutritional components are determined to compensate for the nutritional components necessary to manage the user's body shape.

[0118] Specifically, the user selects and inputs their target body type Bt from the body type types shown in the body type display area 141c to the operation unit 110 shown in Figure 2. The operation unit 110 then receives target body type information to identify the user's target body type Bt. Based on the received target body type information, the display unit 140 displays the user's target body type Bt on the display image 141, as shown in Figure 6.

[0119] In addition, the target body shape compensation unit 153 determines a target vector V, which represents the degree of deviation from the user's body shape Bu to the target body shape Bt, based on the user's target body shape information, and decomposes the target vector V into a deviation degree A for body fat percentage and a deviation degree B for muscle mass score. The target body shape compensation unit 153 then compensates for the nutritional components necessary to achieve the change to the target body shape Bt based on the magnitude and direction of both the deviation degree A for body fat percentage and the deviation degree B for muscle mass score.

[0120] The deviation A in body fat percentage mentioned above is the fat index component of the target vector V, and represents the target deviation of body fat percentage required to achieve the change to target body type Bt. The deviation B in muscle mass score is the muscle index component of the target vector V, and represents the target deviation of muscle mass score required to achieve the change to target body type Bt.

[0121] Next, we will explain the calculation method for the nutritional components and corresponding compensation amounts necessary to achieve the user's target body shape Bt, referring to Figure 7.

[0122] Figure 7 shows an example of a target body shape compensation table 132, which indicates the compensation amounts Co1 and Co2 of nutrients necessary to achieve the target body shape Bt. The target body shape compensation table 132 is recorded, for example, in the body shape data storage unit 130 shown in Figure 2.

[0123] In the target body shape compensation table 132, each degree of deviation A of the fat index I1 corresponds to a compensatory amount Co1 of nutrients that compensates for that deviation A, and each degree of deviation B of the muscle index I2 corresponds to a compensatory amount Co2 of nutrients that compensates for that deviation B.

[0124] In this example, the fat index I1 is the fat percentage, and the muscle index I2 is the muscle mass score. Furthermore, the compensatory amount of nutrients Co1 for the deviation of fat percentage A is the amount of fat accumulation-inhibiting components, and the compensatory amount of nutrients Co2 for the deviation of muscle mass score B includes the amounts of muscle-increasing components and the amount of carbohydrates.

[0125] For deviation degrees A and B, when the distances on the vertical axis and horizontal axis shown in Figure 6 are the same length, the absolute values ​​of deviation degree A and deviation degree B are set to the same value. The absolute values ​​of deviation degrees A and B increase in the order Va1, Va2, Va3, and Va4.

[0126] For the fat index I1, the fat accumulation suppression component is compensated according to the degree of deviation A of the fat percentage. If the direction of deviation A is in the direction of increasing the fat percentage (+ direction), the amount of the fat accumulation suppression component is set to "0", and if it is in the direction of decreasing the fat percentage (- direction), the amount of the fat accumulation suppression component is set to a value greater than "0".

[0127] When the direction of deviation A is in the direction of reducing fat percentage (-direction), the amount of fat accumulation-inhibiting component increases as the absolute value of deviation A increases. In this example, the formula for calculating the compensation amount Co1 is set such that as deviation A approaches "-Va4" from "0", the coefficient multiplied by the basal metabolic rate BM [kcal / day] increases and the intercept increases.

[0128] On the other hand, for muscle index I2, depending on the degree of deviation B in the muscle mass score, muscle-building components and carbohydrates to supply energy to the user are compensated.

[0129] Generally, the greater the amount of muscle gained, the harder the training required. For this reason, carbohydrates are preferable to protein, which increases muscle mass, as a source of energy consumed during training. However, excessive carbohydrate intake promotes fat accumulation, so here, carbohydrates are set to have a smaller increase in compensation for the increase in the degree of deviation of muscle indicators compared to muscle-building components.

[0130] Regarding the carbohydrate compensation amount CO2, the amount of carbohydrates increases as the degree of deviation B of the muscle mass score increases. In this example, the formula for calculating the carbohydrate compensation amount CO2 is set such that as the degree of deviation B approaches "+Va4" from "0", the coefficient multiplied by the basal metabolic rate BM increases and the intercept also increases.

[0131] Furthermore, regarding the compensatory amount CO2 for muscle growth components, if the direction of deviation B is in the direction of decreasing muscle mass (-direction), the amount of muscle growth components is set to "0". Conversely, if the direction of deviation B is in the direction of increasing muscle mass (+direction), the amount of muscle growth components is set to a value greater than "0".

[0132] When the direction of deviation B is in the direction of increasing muscle mass (+ direction), the larger the deviation B, the greater the amount of muscle-increasing component. In this example, the formula for calculating the compensation amount Co2 for muscle-increasing component is set such that as the deviation B approaches "+Va4", the coefficient multiplied by the basal metabolic rate BM increases and the intercept increases.

[0133] Thus, the target body shape compensation table 132 is set up so that as the absolute values ​​of deviations A and B, i.e., the distances on the vertical and horizontal axes shown in Figure 6, increase, the degree of increase in compensation increases in the order of fat accumulation suppression component, carbohydrates, and muscle growth component.

[0134] The reason for increasing the amount of compensation as the absolute values ​​of deviations A and B increase is that increasing muscle mass is more difficult than decreasing fat mass. Specifically, a reduction in fat mass can be achieved simply by preventing the absorption of components that contribute to fat accumulation into the body. In contrast, increasing muscle mass requires more than just absorbing components that promote muscle growth; it also requires triggering responses that develop muscles through training and other means.

[0135] By using the target body shape compensation table 132 set as described above, the target body shape compensation unit 153 shown in Figure 2 compensates for the fat accumulation suppression component when the deviation degree A of the fat index I1 falls below a first threshold indicating "0". When the deviation degree A of the fat index I1 falls below the first threshold, it means that the deviation degree A is decreasing. In this case, the target body shape compensation unit 153 increases the amount of compensation Co1 for the fat accumulation suppression component as the deviation degree A becomes smaller than the first threshold.

[0136] On the other hand, if the degree of deviation A of the fat index I1 is greater than or equal to the first threshold, that is, if the degree of deviation A is increasing, the target body shape compensation unit 153 suppresses the compensation of the fat accumulation suppression component.

[0137] In addition, the target body shape compensation unit 153 compensates for muscle growth components and carbohydrates if the deviation B of the muscle index I2 exceeds a second threshold indicating "0". The deviation B of the muscle index I2 exceeding the second threshold means that the deviation B is increasing. In this case, the target body shape compensation unit 153 increases the amount of compensation Co2 for muscle growth components and carbohydrates as the deviation B becomes greater than the second threshold.

[0138] On the other hand, if the degree of deviation B of muscle index I2 is below the second threshold, that is, if the degree of deviation B is decreasing, the target body shape compensation unit 153 suppresses compensation for both muscle growth components and carbohydrates.

[0139] In this way, the target body shape compensation unit 153 calculates the compensation amounts Co1 and Co2 of the nutritional components associated with the target body shape compensation table 132 based on the deviation degree A of the fat index I1 and the deviation degree B of the muscle index I2. This makes it possible to compensate for the nutritional components necessary to achieve the change to the target body shape Bt, which is identified by the deviation degree A of the fat index I1 and the deviation degree B of the muscle index I2.

[0140] In this example, the first and second thresholds are set to "0," but these thresholds may be values ​​close to "0," and they may also be different from each other. By adjusting the first and second thresholds in this way, if there is a range where there is little need to reduce fat mass, the compensation for fat accumulation-inhibiting components can be suppressed in that range, and similarly, if there is a range where there is little need to reduce muscle mass, the compensation for muscle-increasing components and carbohydrates can be suppressed.

[0141] Furthermore, the formulas for calculating the compensation amount Co1 for each range of deviation degree A, and the formulas for calculating the compensation amounts Co2 for muscle-building components and carbohydrates for each range of deviation degree B, are merely examples and are not limited to these. However, when deviation degree A exceeds the first threshold, and when deviation degree B falls below the second threshold, it is preferable that the degree of increase in the compensation amount, which increases as the degree of deviation increases, increases in the order of fat accumulation-inhibiting components, carbohydrates, and muscle-building components.

[0142] Furthermore, fat loss is more readily apparent than muscle gain, and the effects are more easily visible. For this reason, in the initial stages of continuous supplement 21a intake, the compensatory dose CO1 may be increased to prioritize fat loss over muscle gain. This makes it easier for users to maintain the high motivation they initially had when starting supplement 21a.

[0143] Next, we will briefly explain, with reference to Figure 8, methods for encouraging users to consume the aforementioned nutrients in order to achieve their target body shape.

[0144] Figure 8 shows an example of a display image 142 that abstractly shows the contour of the user when the target body type Bt is achieved. The display image 142 is displayed, for example, by the display unit 140.

[0145] The displayed image 142 consists of a region 142a that displays the contour of the user's body type Bu, a region 142b that displays the contour of the target body type Bt, and a region 142c that displays the target achievement date from the user's body type Bu to the target body type Bt.

[0146] In this way, by displaying the outlines of people who have achieved their target body shape Bt to the user, it is expected that the user will become more motivated to improve their body shape and will continue to take the supplements produced by the generating device 20.

[0147] Furthermore, if the component determination device 30 can continuously acquire the user's body composition information while the user is continuously measuring their own body composition, the target body type Bt previously selected by the user may be maintained without being re-selected. In this case, the nutritional components are determined using the degree of deviation from the user's body type Bu to the target body type Bt at the time the user selected the target body type Bt, so that the nutritional components can be determined according to the degree of achievement of the target.

[0148] Furthermore, the component determination device 30 may determine the duration of the user's body composition information from the time of acquisition of the previous value to the time of acquisition of the current value, and the change in body composition during this duration, and use this information to determine the effectiveness of supplement 21a, and adjust the compensation amount according to the effectiveness. This allows the amount of components in supplement 21a to be reduced if it is too effective, and conversely, if it is not effective enough, the amount of components in supplement 21a can be increased. As a result, it becomes possible to bring the user's body shape closer to the target body shape Bt by the target body shape date shown in Figure 8.

[0149] Furthermore, the component determination device 30 may use the above-mentioned duration and the user's changes in body composition to evaluate the effect of the supplement 21a on both the fat index and the muscle index, and correct the compensation amounts for the fat index and muscle index according to the evaluation values.

[0150] For example, the component determination device 30 reduces the compensation amount for an indicator if the evaluation value of the effect of supplement 21a is greater than a threshold, i.e., if supplement 21a is effective. On the other hand, if the evaluation value of the effect of supplement 21a is less than a threshold, i.e., if supplement 21a is not effective, the compensation amount for that indicator is increased. This makes it possible to determine the nutritional components while taking into account the ease with which the effects of each component appear due to individual differences such as the user's constitution.

[0151] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the compensation amounts Co1 and Co2 for nutrients necessary to achieve the target body shape Bt were calculated based on the user's current muscle mass and fat mass, but this is not limited to this. For example, the user's trends in muscle mass increase and decrease, and trends in body fat percentage increase and decrease, may be identified, and the compensation amounts Co1 and Co2 for nutrients may be weighted according to these identified trends.

[0152] Furthermore, although this embodiment describes an example in which the user inputs a body type as target body type information to the operation unit 110, the input of target body type information is not limited to this. For example, as target body type information, the user may input the increase or decrease amount of both the fat index and the muscle index relative to the user's current body type Bu. Alternatively, as target body type information, the user may directly input the numerical values ​​of the fat index and the muscle index, or at least the direction toward the target body type Bt from the user's body type Bu to the target body type Bt.

[0153] Next, the effects and advantages of the second embodiment will be described.

[0154] According to the second embodiment, the component determination device 30 further includes an operation unit 110 as a receiving means for receiving target body type information indicating the target body type Bt that the user aims for. The nutritional component determination unit 150 further includes a target body type compensation unit 153 as a compensation means for determining compensating nutritional components that compensate for the nutritional components necessary to manage the user's body type Bu, based on a target vector V indicating the degree of deviation from the user's body type Bu to the target body type Bt. Compensating nutritional components include nutritional components necessary to achieve the change to the target body type Bt.

[0155] This allows for the formulation of nutrients necessary to manage body type Bu, which is determined by the user's fat and muscle indices, as well as nutrients necessary to achieve the target body type Bt. Therefore, it becomes possible to accurately provide nutrients that are highly effective in helping the user achieve their ideal body type, tailored to the user's internal health condition. Furthermore, the component determination device 30 may also determine the amount of compensatory nutrients based on the target vector V, in which case even more precise formulation can be achieved.

[0156] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7, the target body shape compensation unit 153 determines whether the degree of deviation A of the fat index, which is the fat index component of the target vector V, falls below a first threshold, i.e., whether it is decreasing. If the degree of deviation A of the fat index falls below the first threshold, the target body shape compensation unit 153 compensates with a fat accumulation suppression component that suppresses fat accumulation. The first threshold here is set to prevent the user from being hindered from achieving the target body shape Bt by ingesting the fat accumulation suppression component. The first threshold is set to, for example, "0".

[0157] In this way, the target body shape compensation unit 153 determines whether or not it is necessary to reduce the user's body fat based on the user's target body shape Bt, and if it determines that it is necessary to reduce body fat, it can provide the user with a fat accumulation suppression component. This makes it possible to bring the user's body shape Bu closer to the target body shape Bt, taking into account the user's internal condition.

[0158] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7, the target body shape compensation unit 153 compensates for muscle growth components when the degree of deviation B of the muscle index, which is the muscle index component of the target vector V, exceeds a second threshold, i.e., is increasing. The second threshold is set to suppress the achievement of the target body shape Bt being hindered by the user ingesting muscle growth components. The second threshold is set to, for example, "0".

[0159] In this way, the target body shape compensation unit 153 determines whether or not it is necessary to increase the user's muscle mass based on the user's target body shape Bt, and if it determines that it is necessary to increase muscle mass, it can provide the user with a muscle-increasing component. This makes it possible to bring the user's body shape Bu closer to the target body shape Bt, taking into account the user's internal condition.

[0160] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, carbohydrates are used as the nutritional components included in the supplement. The target body shape compensation unit 153 increases the amount of carbohydrate compensation as the degree of deviation B of the muscle index increases. As a result, in addition to muscle-building components, carbohydrates are provided to the user to replenish the energy consumed during training, making it easier for the user to increase muscle mass compared to simply providing protein to increase muscle mass.

[0161] (Third embodiment) Next, as a third embodiment of the present invention, an example of adding nutritional components to prevent lifestyle-related diseases in addition to the nutritional components determined in the first embodiment will be described below. The basic configuration of the component determination device in this embodiment is the same as the configuration of the component determination device 30 in the first embodiment.

[0162] Figure 9 shows an example of a lifestyle-related disease prevention table 133 designed to reduce the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. This lifestyle-related disease prevention table 133 is recorded, for example, in the body shape data storage unit 130.

[0163] The lifestyle-related disease prevention table 133 associates each bioindicator that identifies the risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases with the types of nutrients necessary for preventing lifestyle-related diseases and the amounts of those nutrients. In this embodiment, four judgment tables T1 to T4 for bioindicators are set up.

[0164] Judgment Table T1 associates basal metabolic rate (BMR) W with one of the biometric indicators used to identify the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. BMR W is calculated based on the user's muscle mass, age, and sex. The lower the BMR W, the higher the risk of metabolic disorders.

[0165] Furthermore, in the judgment table T1, metabolic activating components and blood circulation promoting components are associated with the nutrients necessary to improve basal metabolic rate W. Metabolic activating components are nutrients that activate basal metabolism, mainly including arginine. Blood circulation promoting components are nutrients that promote blood circulation, such as arginine and maca.

[0166] Furthermore, for the amounts of each component, including the metabolic activating component and the blood circulation promoting component, a moderate amount A2 is assigned to the standard range of basal metabolic rate W, while a small amount A1 and a large amount A3 are assigned to the high and low ranges relative to the standard range, respectively. The amounts A1 to A3 are predetermined values.

[0167] In this embodiment, the nutrient determination unit 150 refers to the determination table T1, and if the basal metabolic rate W falls below the standard range, it selects a metabolic activation component and a blood circulation promoting component as nutrients to reduce the risk of lifestyle-related diseases, and increases the amount of each. This makes it easier for the user's basal metabolic rate W to rise, thus preventing the risk of lifestyle-related diseases such as metabolic disorders caused by a decrease in basal metabolic rate W.

[0168] In the assessment table T2, visceral fat mass X is associated with one of the bioindicators used to identify the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. The higher the visceral fat mass X, the higher the risk of developing metabolic syndrome and other related conditions.

[0169] Furthermore, in the judgment table T2, antioxidant components, lipolytic components, and lipid metabolism-promoting components are associated with the nutrients necessary to improve visceral fat mass X. Antioxidant components are nutrients necessary to suppress oxidation, and mainly include polyphenols. Lipolytic components are nutrients necessary to break down fat, and examples include dietary fiber. Lipid metabolism-promoting components are nutrients that promote lipid metabolism, and examples include dietary fiber and lecithin.

[0170] For each of the three nutrients, a moderate amount of additive B2 is assigned to the standard range of visceral fat mass X, while a small amount of additive B1 and a large amount of additive B3 are assigned to the ranges below and above the standard range, respectively. Addition amounts B1 to B3 are predetermined values.

[0171] In this embodiment, the nutrient determination unit 150 refers to the determination table T2, and if the visceral fat mass X exceeds the standard range, it selects antioxidant components, fat-decomposing components, and lipid metabolism-promoting components as nutrients to suppress the risk of lifestyle-related diseases, and increases the amount of each. As a result, the user's visceral fat mass X is more likely to decrease, thus preventing the risk of lifestyle-related diseases such as arteriosclerosis caused by an increase in visceral fat mass X.

[0172] In assessment table T3, bone mass Y is associated with one of the bioindicators used to identify the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. The lower the bone mass Y, the higher the risk of developing osteoporosis and other related conditions.

[0173] Furthermore, in the assessment table T3, bone formation components and bone metabolism support components are associated with the nutrients necessary to improve bone mass Y. Bone formation components are nutrients necessary for bone formation, mainly calcium, etc. Bone metabolism support components are nutrients that support bone metabolism, such as magnesium and vitamin D.

[0174] For each of the two nutrients, a moderate amount of supplementation C2 is assigned to the standard range of bone mass Y, while a small amount of supplementation C1 and a large amount of supplementation C3 are assigned to the ranges that are higher and lower than the standard range, respectively. Supplementation amounts C1 to C3 are predetermined values.

[0175] In this embodiment, the nutritional component determination unit 150 refers to the determination table T3, and if bone mass Y falls below the standard range, it selects bone formation components and bone metabolism support components as nutrients to reduce the risk of lifestyle-related diseases, and increases the amount of each. This makes it easier for the user's bone mass Y to increase, thus preventing the risk of lifestyle-related diseases such as osteoporosis caused by a decrease in bone mass Y.

[0176] Judgment Table T4 associates body water balance Z with one of the bioindicators used to identify the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. Body water balance Z is a value that evaluates the balance between intracellular and extracellular fluid. The worse the body water balance Z, the higher the risk of developing conditions such as hypertension.

[0177] Furthermore, in the assessment table T4, excretion-promoting components and blood flow-smoothing components are associated with the nutrients necessary to improve the body water balance Z. Excretion-promoting components are nutrients that promote the excretion of excess body water or salt, and mainly include potassium. Blood flow-smoothing components are nutrients necessary to prevent stagnation of blood flow or lymphatic fluid flow, and examples include sweet clover.

[0178] For each of the two nutrients, a moderate amount D2 is assigned to the standard range of body water balance Z, while a small amount D1 and a large amount D3 are assigned to the good and bad ranges relative to the standard range, respectively. The amounts D1 to D3 are predetermined values.

[0179] In this embodiment, the nutrient determination unit 150 refers to the determination table T4, and if the body water balance Z falls below the standard range, it selects an excretion-promoting component and a blood flow-smoothing component as nutrients to reduce the risk of lifestyle-related diseases, and increases the amount of each. As a result, the user's body water balance Z approaches a good state, thus preventing the risk of lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension caused by a deterioration of body water balance Z.

[0180] By using this lifestyle-related disease prevention table 133, the nutrition component determination unit 150 can determine the amount of improvement components to be added based on at least one biological indicator, such as basal metabolic rate W, visceral fat mass X, bone mass Y, and body water balance Z. Examples of improvement components include, as mentioned above, metabolic activation components, blood circulation promoting components, antioxidant components, fat breakdown components, lipid metabolism promoting components, bone formation components, bone metabolism support components, excretion promoting components, and blood flow smoothing components.

[0181] Thus, the nutrition component determination unit 150 of this embodiment determines the components that improve a given biometric indicator based on the biometric indicator that identifies the risk of a predetermined lifestyle-related disease.

[0182] Next, a method for providing supplements containing the nutritional components determined in each embodiment will be briefly explained with reference to Figure 10.

[0183] Figure 10 shows an example of supplement 21a placed on a plate 22 by the generating device 20.

[0184] As shown in Figure 10, the supplement 21a provided from the generating device 20 to the dish 22 consists of a basic component I shown by a dashed line, a compensatory component II shown by a dashed line, and a health risk prevention component III shown by a double dashed line.

[0185] Basic component I is a supplement having the nutritional components determined in the first embodiment, and as shown in Figure 4, it contains the nutritional components necessary for managing the user's body shape Bu.

[0186] In this embodiment as well, the nutrient component determination unit 150 selects the nutrients necessary for the user's body shape management from among fat accumulation suppression components, vitality activation components, muscle growth components, and muscle health improvement components, based on the user's fat index and muscle index, and determines the amount of those nutrients.

[0187] Compensation component II is a supplement containing the nutritional components determined in the second embodiment, and as shown in Figure 7, it contains the nutritional components necessary for the user to achieve their target body shape Bt.

[0188] In this embodiment as well, the nutrient determination unit 150 selects the nutrients necessary to achieve the target body shape Bt from among fat accumulation suppression components, muscle growth components, and carbohydrates, based on the user's degree of deviation A of the fat index and degree of deviation B of the muscle index, and the amount of those nutrients is compensated.

[0189] Health risk prevention component III is a supplement containing the nutritional components determined in the third embodiment, and as shown in Figure 9, it contains the nutritional components necessary to prevent lifestyle-related diseases in users.

[0190] In this embodiment, basal metabolic rate (W), visceral fat mass (X), bone mass (Y), and body water balance (Z) are used as bioindicators to identify the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. Based on these bioindicators, nutrients necessary for improving the user's bioindicators are selected from among metabolic activating components, blood circulation promoting components, antioxidant components, lipolytic components, lipid metabolism promoting components, bone formation components, and bone metabolism supporting components, and the amount of those nutrients is determined.

[0191] In this way, food and beverages containing basic component I, which is necessary for managing the user's body shape Bu, compensatory component II, which is necessary for achieving the user's target body shape Bt, and health risk prevention component III, which is necessary for preventing lifestyle-related diseases in the user, are provided to the user from the generating device 20.

[0192] Next, the operation of the component determination device 30 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 11 and 12. Note that the component determination device 30 may consist only of the first embodiment, or at least one of the second and third embodiments. Figure 12 shows an example of the operation of the component determination device 30 comprising all embodiments.

[0193] Figure 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure for determining nutritional components in this embodiment.

[0194] In step S1, the body composition information acquisition unit 120 acquires body composition information, including the user's fat index and muscle index, from the communication device 8 of the body composition measuring device 10.

[0195] In step S2, the nutrient determination unit 150 performs a component determination process to determine the nutritional components of the supplement based on the acquired fat index and muscle index of the user. Details of this component determination process will be described later with reference to Figure 12. The nutrient command unit 160 instructs the generation device 20 to provide the amount of nutritional components determined by the nutrient determination unit 150.

[0196] In step S3, the generating device 20 provides the supplement 21a to the dish 22 based on the amount of nutrients instructed by the nutrient instruction unit 160. Specifically, the generating device 20 selects a container containing supplement materials with the instructed nutrients from among a plurality of containers 21. The generating device 20 then produces the supplement 21a by taking a predetermined number of supplement materials from each of the selected containers based on the amount of the instructed nutrients, and provides the produced supplement 21a.

[0197] Once the processing in step S3 is completed, the control unit 180 terminates the series of processing steps for determining the nutritional components.

[0198] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure for the component determination process performed in step S2.

[0199] In step S21, the body type selection unit 151 determines the user's body type Bu based on the user's muscle index and fat index obtained by the body composition information acquisition unit 120. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the body type selection unit 151 selects the body type to which the user's body type Bu belongs from among nine body type types, based on the user's fat percentage and muscle mass score.

[0200] In step S22, the nutritional component calculation unit 152 calculates the amount of basic component I, which is a nutrient necessary for managing the user's body type Bu, based on the body type to which the user's body type Bu belongs. In this embodiment, the nutritional component calculation unit 152 refers to the body type management table 131 shown in Figure 5, identifies the ratio of basic component I associated with the body type to which the user's body type Bu belongs, and calculates the amount of basic component I based on that ratio.

[0201] In step S23, the operation unit 110 receives target body type information that identifies the user's target body type Bt based on the user's input operation.

[0202] In step S24, the target body shape compensation unit 153 calculates a target vector V, which indicates the degree of deviation from the user's body shape Bu to the target body shape Bt, based on the target body shape information.

[0203] In step S25, the target body shape compensation unit 153 calculates the amount of compensation component II, which is the nutritional component necessary to achieve the change to the target body shape Bt, based on the user's target vector V.

[0204] In this embodiment, the target body shape compensation unit 153 decomposes the user's target vector V into a deviation degree A of body fat percentage and a deviation degree B of muscle mass score. The target body shape compensation unit 153 refers to the target body shape compensation table 132 shown in Figure 7 and calculates the compensation amount Co1 of the compensation component II corresponding to the decomposed deviation degree A of body fat percentage, and also calculates the compensation amount Co2 of the compensation component II corresponding to the decomposed deviation degree B of muscle mass score.

[0205] In step S26, the body composition information acquisition unit 120 acquires biometric indicators to identify the user's risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, the body composition information acquisition unit 120 acquires at least one of the user's basal metabolic rate W, visceral fat mass X, bone mass Y, and body water balance Z.

[0206] In step S27, the nutrient determination unit 150 calculates the amount of health risk prevention component III, which is a nutrient necessary to suppress the risk of lifestyle-related diseases, based on the biological indicators from the body composition information acquisition unit 120.

[0207] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, if the nutrient determination unit 150 determines that the basal metabolic rate W is low, it selects a metabolic activation component and a blood circulation promoting component as health risk prevention component III and increases the amount of each added. Furthermore, if the nutrient determination unit 150 determines that the visceral fat mass X is high, it selects an antioxidant component, a fat-decomposing component, and a lipid metabolism promoting component as health risk prevention component III and increases the amount of each added. In addition, if the nutrient determination unit 150 determines that the bone mass Y is low, it selects a bone-forming component and a bone metabolism-supporting component as health risk prevention component III and increases the amount of each added. Finally, if the nutrient determination unit 150 determines that the body water balance Z is poor, it selects an excretion-promoting component and a blood flow-smoothing component as health risk prevention component III and increases the amount of each added.

[0208] In step S28, the nutritional component determination unit 150 outputs the above-mentioned calculation results of nutritional components as component determination information to the nutritional component command unit 160.

[0209] Specifically, the nutrition component determination unit 150 generates and outputs component determination information showing the amount of basic component I calculated in step S22, the compensation amount of compensatory component II calculated in step S25, and the amount of health risk prevention component III added calculated in step S27. Based on this component determination information, the nutrition component command unit 160 instructs the mixing of the amount of basic component I, the compensation amount of compensatory component II, and the amount of health risk prevention component III added.

[0210] When the processing in step S28 is completed, the control unit 180 terminates the component determination subroutine and returns to the main routine of the nutritional component determination method shown in Figure 11. Note that the processing in steps S23 to S27 may be omitted, or the processing in steps S23 to S25, or either the processing in steps S26 or S27, may be omitted.

[0211] In this embodiment, an example of determining health risk prevention component III using bioindicators that can identify the risk of lifestyle-related diseases has been described. However, the nutrient component determination unit 150 may also determine adjustment component IV, which regulates bodily functions, as another nutrient component using measurement results from other measuring devices.

[0212] For example, another measuring device may be a breath measuring device that measures acetone in the user's exhaled breath and calculates a lipid metabolism evaluation value based on the measured value. In this case, the body composition information acquisition unit 120 receives the user's lipid metabolism evaluation value from the breath measuring device, and the nutritional component determination unit 150 calculates the amount of at least one adjustment component IV to be added, such as antioxidant components, lipolytic components, and lipid metabolism promoting components, based on the lipid metabolism evaluation value.

[0213] Alternatively, an activity level measuring device may be used, which measures the user's activity level and calculates an activity evaluation value that assesses the activity level on the previous day or the previous week. In this case, the body composition information acquisition unit 120 receives the user's activity evaluation value from the activity level measuring device, and the nutritional component determination unit 150 calculates the amount of at least one adjustment component IV to be added, such as metabolic activating components and blood circulation promoting components, based on the activity evaluation value.

[0214] Alternatively, another measuring device may be used, which measures the user's sleep state and calculates a sleep evaluation value that assesses the quality of sleep based on the measured values. In this case, the body composition information acquisition unit 120 receives the user's sleep evaluation value from the sleep measuring device, and the nutritional component determination unit 150 calculates the amount of adjustment component IV to be added, such as an anti-fatigue component, based on the sleep evaluation value.

[0215] Furthermore, in another embodiment, the nutrition component determination unit 150 of any one embodiment from the first to third embodiments may further determine the adjustment component IV and the amount of adjustment component IV using the measurement results of the other measuring devices described above. That is, the nutrition component determination unit 150 determines the amount of adjustment component IV in addition to the amount of at least one nutrient among the amount of basic component I, the compensation amount of compensation component II, and the added amount of health risk prevention component III.

[0216] In the embodiments described above, an example was given in which the body composition information acquisition unit 120 determines nutritional components and their amounts based on body composition information, but it is not limited to this. For example, the body composition information acquisition unit 120 may predict the nutritional components and their amounts to be ingested through meals, and subtract the predicted nutritional components and their amounts from the nutritional components determined in the embodiments described above. In this case, the nutritional component determination unit 150 determines the nutritional components and their amounts as the nutritional components of the supplement by subtracting the amount of nutritional components predicted to be ingested through meals from the determined nutritional components.

[0217] The nutrients expected to be consumed through meals, and their amounts, may be fixed, or they may be predicted based on answers to questions about meals, or they may be predicted by obtaining or analyzing data from other sources such as meal management apps.

[0218] Next, the effects and advantages of the third embodiment will be described.

[0219] According to the third embodiment, the nutrition component determination unit 150 determines the amount of improving components necessary to improve a predetermined biometric indicator that identifies the risk of a lifestyle-related disease, based on the numerical value of that biometric indicator. In this way, the amount of improving components to be added is determined according to the level of risk of developing a lifestyle-related disease, making it possible to reduce the user's risk of developing a lifestyle-related disease. The nutrition component determination unit 150 may also determine only the type of improving component. Even in this case, it is possible to reduce the user's risk of developing a lifestyle-related disease.

[0220] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, at least one of the following internal indicators is used to identify the risk of lifestyle-related diseases: the user's basal metabolic rate W, visceral fat mass X, bone mass Y, and body water balance Z.

[0221] Furthermore, as an ingredient to improve basal metabolic rate W, at least one nutrient is used from among metabolic activating ingredients that activate basal metabolism and blood circulation promoting ingredients that promote blood circulation.In addition, as an ingredient to improve visceral fat X, at least one nutrient is used from among antioxidant ingredients, fat-breaking ingredients that break down fat, and lipid metabolism promoting ingredients that promote lipid metabolism.In addition, as an ingredient to improve bone mass Y, at least one nutrient is used from among bone-forming ingredients that form bone and bone metabolism-supporting ingredients that assist bone metabolism.

[0222] In this way, the metabolic activating components and blood circulation promoting components are increased in response to a decrease in the user's basal metabolic rate W, thus preventing the user from developing metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the antioxidant components, fat-breaking components, and lipid metabolism-promoting components are increased in response to an increase in the user's visceral fat mass X, thus suppressing the user's risk of developing metabolic syndrome. In other words, health risks such as dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, and fasting hyperglycemia can be reduced. Moreover, the bone-forming components and bone-regulating components are increased in response to a decrease in the user's bone mass Y, thus preventing the risk of developing osteoporosis.

[0223] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments only represent a part of the application examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configurations of the embodiments described above.

[0224] In the above-described embodiment, the component determination device 30, which determines the nutritional components necessary for the user's body according to the user's internal health condition, was described in terms of determining the type and amount of nutritional components. However, it is also possible to determine only the type of nutritional component.

[0225] In the embodiment described above, an example was explained in which the generating device 20 produces supplement 21a by blending supplement materials extracted in arbitrary amounts from each of the containers 21. However, the generating device 20 is not limited to this. For example, each of the multiple containers 21 of the generating device 20 may contain supplements in the form of capsules, tablets, or other shapes, and each container 21 may contain a different type of supplement. In this case, the generating device 20 may provide a combination of supplements by selecting a predetermined container from the multiple containers 21 according to the components and component amounts determined by the component determination device 30.

[0226] Furthermore, the generating device 20 may perform a payment process using cash or electronic money when providing the supplement 21a, and provide the supplement 21a once the payment is completed.

[0227] This application claims priority under Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-066021, filed with the Japan Patent Office on 29 March 2018, and all contents of that application are incorporated herein by reference. [Explanation of symbols]

[0228] 10 Body composition measuring device 20 Generator 30 Component Determination Device 110 Operation Unit (Reception Means) 120 Body composition information acquisition unit (acquisition means) 130 Body shape data retention unit (retention means) 150 Nutritional component determination unit (determination means) 151 Body type selection unit (selection means) 152 Nutritional component calculation unit (calculation means) 153 Target body type compensation section (compensation means) 170 Memory Unit (Program)

Claims

1. A component determination device for determining the nutritional components of food and beverages provided to users, An acquisition means for acquiring a muscle index indicating the degree of muscle mass of a user and a fat index indicating the degree of fat mass of the user, A storage means for storing, in association with the nutritional components necessary for the healthy management of the body shape of users belonging to a predetermined body type, based on a combination of muscle and fat index indicators, A selection means for selecting the body type to which the user's body type belongs from among the predetermined body type types based on the acquired muscle index and fat index, Based on the body type selected by the selection means, a determination means that refers to the holding means and determines the nutritional components associated with that body type, A component determination device characterized by including [a certain component].

2. A component determination apparatus according to claim 1, The aforementioned nutritional components include an inhibitory component that suppresses fat accumulation, an activating component that activates the vitality of the user, a health-promoting component that maintains healthy muscles, and a muscle-building component that increases muscle mass. The aforementioned determination means is As the fat index increases, the inhibitory component is increased and the activating component is decreased. As the muscle index increases, the health-promoting component is increased and the volume-increasing component is decreased. Component determination device.

3. A component determination apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, The system further includes a means for receiving body shape information indicating the target body shape desired by the user, The determination means determines the nutritional components based on the degree of deviation from the user's body type to the target body type. Component determination device.

4. A component determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The system further includes a means for receiving body shape information indicating the target body shape desired by the user, The determination means further includes a compensation means for determining compensatory nutritional components to compensate for the nutritional components based on the degree of deviation from the user's body type to the target body type. Component determination device.

5. A component determination apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4, The degree of discrepancy is determined by the magnitude of the difference in muscle index and the magnitude of the difference in fat index. Component determination device.

6. The component determination apparatus according to claim 4, The compensation means determines the compensatory nutritional components such that, if the fat index component of the degree of deviation falls below a first threshold, it includes an inhibitory component that suppresses fat accumulation. Component determination device.

7. A component determination apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 6, The compensation means determines the compensatory nutritional components such that, if the muscle index component of the degree of deviation exceeds a second threshold, it includes a muscle-increasing component. Component determination device.

8. A component determination apparatus according to any one of claims 4, 6, and 7, The aforementioned nutritional components include carbohydrates, The compensation means increases the amount of carbohydrate compensation as the muscle indicator component of the degree of discrepancy increases. Component determination device.

9. A component determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The muscle index is the muscle mass of the user or a parameter that correlates with said muscle mass. The aforementioned fat index is the user's body fat percentage. Component determination device.

10. A component determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The determination means determines, based on a bioindicator that identifies the risk of a predetermined lifestyle-related disease, a component that improves the said bioindicator as the nutritional component. Component determination device.

11. The component determination apparatus according to claim 10, The aforementioned biometric indicators include at least one of the user's basal metabolic rate, visceral fat, and bone mass. The component that improves basal metabolism includes at least one of the components that activate basal metabolism and the component that promotes blood circulation. The aforementioned visceral fat-improving component includes at least one of the following: an antioxidant component, a fat-breaking component, and a component that promotes lipid metabolism. The bone mass-improving component includes at least one of the components that form bone and the components that assist in bone metabolism. Component determination device.

12. A component determination apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, The determination means determines, based on at least one evaluation value among the user's exhalation, activity level, and sleep, other nutritional components, as well as adjusting components that regulate the body's condition. Component determination device.

13. A method for determining the nutritional components of food and beverages provided to users, which is performed by a computer, A step of obtaining a muscle index indicating the degree of muscle mass of the user and a fat index indicating the degree of fat mass of the user, A maintenance step that, for each predetermined body type, maintains the nutritional components necessary for healthy management of the body type of users belonging to that body type, based on a combination of muscle and fat index indicators, A selection step in which, based on the acquired muscle index and fat index, the user's body type is selected from among the predetermined body type types to which the user's body type belongs. Based on the body type selected in the selection step, the nutritional components that were held in association with each predetermined body type in the holding step are referenced, and the nutritional components associated with the selected body type are determined. A method for determining components, characterized by including the following:

14. A computer that determines the nutritional content of food and beverages provided to users, A step of obtaining a muscle index indicating the degree of muscle mass of the user and a fat index indicating the degree of fat mass of the user, A maintenance step that, for each predetermined body type, maintains the nutritional components necessary for healthy management of the body type of users belonging to that body type, based on a combination of muscle and fat index indicators, A selection step in which, based on the acquired muscle index and fat index, the user's body type is selected from among the predetermined body type types to which the user's body type belongs. Based on the body type selected in the selection step, the nutritional components that were held in association with each predetermined body type in the holding step are referenced, and the nutritional components associated with the selected body type are determined. A program to execute.

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