Title: Maternal Obesity Management: A Narrative Literature Review of health policies
Version: 6 Date: 12 Jun 2024
Reviewer's report:
Manuscript review
Title of Manuscript: Global efforts to combat maternal obesity: A Narrative Literature
Review of health policies
Authors: Elnaz Kalantari1, Maryam Tajvar1, Shohreh Naderimagham2,3, Amirhossein
Takian1,4,5*
This manuscript is a narrative review of Pubmed and Gray literature on strategies and policies
to prevent maternal obesity during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and post-partum periods. The
review highlighted the importance of addressing maternal obesity through comprehensive
guidelines and proactive implementation strategies. These measures can help healthcare
professionals achieve better outcomes while reducing health-related costs. However, research
gaps exist regarding lifestyle interventions during pregnancy, as well as the impact of healthcare
professionals' behaviors on providing support to obese pregnant women.
Strengths of the study
o Clarity: The manuscript is well-written and presents a clear research question.
o Structure: The literature search methods, results, and conclusions are well-described and
follow a logical flow.
o Synthesis: The review effectively synthesizes existing research and draws conclusions
consistent with the research question.
However below are areas for improvement
o The author must correct minor typographic or grammatical errors contained in the text.
Introduction:
o Consider condensing the introduction for improved conciseness. Refer to the suggestions
provided for this section.
Methods:
o Database Search: Expand the search strategy by including additional databases like Embase
and CINAHL alongside PubMed.
o Search String Refinement: Refine the PubMed search string with Boolean operators (AND,
OR, NOT) to enhance search accuracy.
o Gray Literature Selection: Provide more details on the inclusion/exclusion criteria used
for selecting CPGs (e.g., date range, target audience, specific focus within maternal obesity
management).
o Abstract vs. Full-Text Review: Acknowledge the limitation of initial abstract screening and
outline a plan for full-text review of promising articles for a more comprehensive analysis.
Discussion
o Limitations: Discuss the limitations of the study, including the limited database search
potentially weakening the findings and the lack of full-text review potentially missing important
details.
o Comparison to Systematic Reviews: While acknowledging the limitations of a narrative review
compared to a systematic review, highlight the value of this study in providing initial data and
identifying research gaps for future systematic reviews and policy development.
Overall, this narrative review offers valuable insights into maternal obesity, preventative
strategies, and management during pregnancy and postpartum.  While a systematic review might
provide stronger conclusions, this study lays the groundwork for further research by identifying
areas where knowledge is lacking and policy improvements are needed. Addressing the
suggested improvements in the methods and discussion sections will strengthen the manuscript
and enhance its contribution to the field.