Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Obesity associates w ith vasomotor symptoms in postmenopause but with physical  
symptoms in perimenopause: a cross -sectional study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 03 May 2017  
 
Reviewer: Roisin Worsley  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Thankyou for asking me to review this interesting ma nuscript. I have only minor comments.  
 
 
 
In regards to the methodology it would be helpful to know more about the Korean Health system 
- why do women go to a tertiary centre for check ups? Do all women of a certain age attend or 
only women who have health con cerns? How many women were eligible for the study?  
 
 
Was menopausal status determined solely on the basis of bleeding pattern?  
 
 
Results: it would be nice to see the actual numbers of women included in the regression models  
 
 
 
Discussion:  
 
That obese women were more likely to report 'weight gain' and 'feeling bloated' - is that an 
important result or is it that obese women are more likely to 'feel' obese?  
 
 
Our group published a very similar study in Australian women (Gartoualla, Menopause, Vol . 22, 
No. 7, 2015) with the same outcome measure (menqol VMS domain score >=5) and we found 
that the presence of VMS (VMSy/n) was only more likely in morbidly obese women (BMI 40+) 
but moderate -severe VMS were more likely in overweight but not obese women.  Did your group 
include any morbidly obese women?  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 controls 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 t he manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
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, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or 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 fo r 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 h ave no competing 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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