Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Associations between family factors and body wei ght gain from 20 years old  
 
Version: 0 Date: 19 Nov 2018  
 
Reviewer: Ahmed Nassr  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is a cross -sectional study to assess the associations between various family factors and adult 
weight gain.  
In general, the study is well written, easy to follow and address an important question.  
 
I do have the following comments/concerns:  
1- Title: I would suggest removing the name of the study  from the title "the Shizuoka -
Sakuragaoka J -MICC Study" since this study was originally designed to study a different 
topic (the relationships between genetic and lifestyle factors for risks of lifestyle -related 
diseases, such as cancer, heart and cerebrov ascular diseases, and diabetes) and to make the 
title more simple.  
 
2- Major concern: BMI at 20 years of age was based on a questionnaire. The population being 
questioned was > 35 years old. This means that at least over 15 years have passed which 
makes it very difficult for most people to recall. Although the authors addressed this issue in 
the limitation section, I find it a major limitation that affects the validity of the findings  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please speci fy 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.  
 
No 
  
Are you able to assess any statistics in the 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:  
 
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, 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 receiv ed 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 i n relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have 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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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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