Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Overweight and lower age at menarche: evidence from t he Italian HBSC cross -sectional 
survey  
 
Version: 1 Date: 24 Sep 2017  
 
Reviewer: Paul Kaplowitz  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is a well written manuscript which provides interesting data on the timing of menarche in 
different parts of Italy and its possible relationship to mean BMI in that part of the country.  The 
conclusions are justified by the data.  
 
I found only 1 minor error:  In line 201the word "obesity"is missing after the words "difference 
in the prevalence of xx among 15 year olds"  
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which cont rols are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recomm end an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess  the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please in dicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now o r in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I  declare that I have  no compe ting interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I u pload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
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to the editor s, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal