Reviewer’s report  
 
Title: Supporting women of childbearing age in the prevention and treatment of overweight and 
obesity: A scoping review of randomized control trials of behavioral interventions  
 
Version: 1 Date: 07 Aug 2019  
 
Reviewer: Ahmed Aboelfadal  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Comments to authors:  
The manuscript aimed to investigate the extent and range of research undertaken to evaluate 
behavioral interventions to support women of childbea ring age to prevent and treat overweight 
and obesity. As mentioned by the authors, being the first review on this topic, it would rank high 
in terms of originality. The review has followed PRISMA guideline of systematic reviews and 
meta -analyses. However, the following comments to be considered by authors:  
 
Major comments:  
Study design:  
Authors limited their search to RCTs. However other types of studies could be included (i.e. 
cohort studies).  
Databases for search:  
* Authors missed the following databases  Dynamed, TRIP, ScienceDirect.  
* Authors did not check clinical trial.gov for any ongoing trials or accomplished ones to 
use their data.  
* Search duration: Authors limited their search to 31 Jan 2018 (18 months ago), more 
studies could be published to date .  
Assessment quality of included studies  
* Author did not add a paragraph for assessment quality of included studies and risk of 
bias. 
 
Minor comments:  
Screening title:  
* It would be better to identify two reviewers by initials who conducted screening and  third 
author who was contacted for conflicts. For example; Lisa Vincze (LV)  
Data extraction:  
* You have mentioned that data extraction was collected by one investigator and checked 
by second one, it would be better to have a third investigator to be consu lted on disagreement 
between two previous reviewers to insure good assessment of collected data.  
 
 
 
 
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.  
 
No 
 
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 manus cript or would you recommend 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.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manu script:  
 
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, fees, f unding, 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 fr om 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 t hat 
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 co mpeting interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I have no conflict of interest  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal . I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be in cluded as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal