Title: Socio-demographic predictors of obesity among women in Mukono Central Division in
Central Uganda: A cross-sectional study
Version: 4 Date: 17 Apr 2023
Reviewer's report:
Abstract
Line 19-21 change to: This study explored the socio demographic predictors of obesity among
women 18 to 59 years living in Mukono Central Division in Central Uganda.
Line 23-25 change to: A total of 384 women between 18 and 59 years from Mukono Central
Division in Central Uganda were randomly recruited.
Line 27-28 change to:  Total body fat percentage (indicator for obesity) was measured using ....
Line 30-32 change to:  Nearly two fifth (40.4% CI 95%: 38.4–42.4) of the respondents were
classified as obese.
Line 33-35 change to: The prevalence of obesity among the unemployed and employed women
was 48.2% and 34.4% respectively.
Line 36-39 change to: An in-depth study on factors that predisposes unemployed women to
obesity will be instrumental in guiding interventions to curb the emerging obesity epidemic in
Uganda.
Background
Line after 55: Include Uganda statistics where the study was conducted.
Before line 70: include statements to indicate why you ultimately you concentrate on social
demographic predictors. What is known and the gap in literature on predictors of obesity. i.e.
indicate how socio-demographic predictors come up in the statement on line 70.
Justification
Line 71-121. Combine the Justification with the background.
Methods
Line 125-126 include: dates when the data was collected.
Line 126-129: transfer to section on variables
Line 131-132 change to: The municipality is about 27 kilometres by road and in the East of
Kampala City.
Line 133-135.  crosscheck with papers in BMC to establish how the coordinates are written.
e.g., 00°20#N 32°45#E for location.  Also review the reference used to include a government
report/document or paper.
Line 135 state: Mukono municipality?? was chosen because it was located in the district with
high prevalence of overweight and obesity among women (UBOS and ICF, 2018).  Include
a statement that makes the municipality so special compared to the sub counties in Mukono
district.
Line 148-156 under sample size. Delete (Sample size was determined using the Araoye, 2003
formula.
N =      Z2 P (1-P)
X2
Where, N = sample size; Z = confidence level (which was taken as 95% with a degree of
probability of 1.96%, P = total prevalence of women overweight, obesity and underweight of
women taken as 50.4% (UBOS, 2016); (1 – P) = prevalence of women not malnourished; and
X2= level of precision, taken to be 5%.)
Include (A Total of 384 respondents were obtained and used for the regression analysis. The
sample size was adequate for the method from the results of the power analysis)
Line 157-159: delete (N= (1.96)2× 0.504× (1-0.504) = 384 respondents. 0.052)
Line 163-165, change to: The study employed two-stage sampling in which a sample of a
primary unit was selected and then another sample of secondary units also selected within each
primary unit (Creswell et al., 2018).
Line 187-189: for (Agyemang et al, (2015); Mawa (2018) and (Mtumwa et al., 2015).  check
for referencing style in text with BMC women. Also, check any other references in text.
Line 194-197 on categorizing age. Check for disadvantage for making the age data categorical.
Based on the references, you needed to use 0 for below 20, 1 for  20-29 years, 2 for 30-39, 3
for 40-49, and 4 for 50 and above if you had these categories of ages. Having two categories
might have hidden results.
Line 200: separate divorced and married as these give different socio-economic grouping.
Line 237:  you have different styles of writing p-values throughout the text. At times you use
capital P and other times you use small p. So do the writing of p values with figures. p<0.05, P
< 0.05. please check BMC guidance for writing p values.
Results
Line 261 - 265:  Delete from factors associated with obesity to Table 4
Discussion (read https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4548568/)
Avoid too many references in this section as it appears to be a literature review. The discussion
needs rewriting.
Line 280-283 change to: The possible reason for this contradiction is that the employed women
were involved in work such as tailoring (...more examples) that increased physical activity and
energy expenditure. delete the references. Include a follow-on statement to indicate how much
energy is spent while tailoring and other work you include.
Line 316-331: include the strengths and limitations under the discussion section.