Apparatus for and method of measuring body fat

A body fat apparatus for measuring body fat of a finger of a human body, comprising:

• a photometer for measuring absorbance by the finger at at least one wavelength including a projecting mechanism for irradiating the finger with infrared light included in a wavelength region of 1.1 to 2.0 μm, a photoreceiving mechanism for receiving output light from the finger and spectroscopic means for separating said light to be applied to the finger or said output light from the finger into its spectral components;
• a compression mechanism for compressing a measured region of the finger or a peripheral portion thereof;
• difference absorbance calculation means for obtaining difference absorbance from first absorbance obtained by said photometer under a first state in which the measured region is compressed by said compression mechanism with a first pressure and second absorbance obtained by said photometer under a second state in which the measured region is either compressed with a second pressure lower than said first pressure or non-compressed;
• a storage part storing relations between body fat and difference absorbance;
• and
• an operation part quantitatively determining body fat from said difference absorbance calculated by said difference absorbance calculation means on the basis of said relations stored in said storage part, wherein said photometer includes a table for receiving the finger and a probe engaged in said table for brining a projecting end of said projecting mechanism and a photoreceiving end of said photoreceiving mechanism into contact with the finger on said table, and
• said compression mechanism includes an air pack compressing the finger placed on said table from a side opposite to said probe.

A body fat measuring method including:

• (A) a first photometric step of irradiating a physical mass other than a human body with infrared light including a wavelength region of 1.1 to 2.0 μm under a first state in which the physical mass is compressed with a first pressure and receiving output light from the physical mass for measuring absorbance by the physical mass at at least one wavelength;
• (B) a second photometric step of irradiating the physical mass with said infrared light under a second state in which the physical mass is either compressed with a second pressure lower than said first pressure or non-compressed and receiving output light from the physical mass through said light for measuring absorbance by said physical mass at said wavelength;
• (C) a step of obtaining difference absorbance from difference between said absorbance obtained in said first photometric step and said absorbance obtained in said second photometric step;
• and
• (D) quantitatively measuring body fat on the basis of said difference absorbance.