[13] Investigation of influence of daily food intake on the health and growth of children

This is a study of influences on the health and growth of children in Japan according to the change of the rapid change of its society and custom. They might be exerted by uncertain factors resulting from food ingredients and their daily intake. For this purpose the relevant investigation was performed throughout the country. The statistical analysis methods with quantification of qualitative data are proposed as an extension of dual scaling techniques including fuzzy concept. They are shown useful to find out correlation and causality among the factors given by qualitative data, which are obtained from the investigation of relation of food intake to the health and growth of children. Various kinds of influential factors are made clear by the proposed statistical analysis, which will give useful information for the promotion of health and growth of children. In order to cope with laborious works dealing with a great number of data in an investigation by questionnaires, a new method is developed by means of telecommunication and computer networks. In addition, a direct image processing system of questionnaires using a facsimile is developed with an automatic processing of database construction.