Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Pre-pregnancy body mass ind ex and gestational weight gain and their effects on pregnancy 
and birth outcomes: a cohort study in West Sumatra, Indonesia  
 
Version: 0 Date: 04 Dec 2016 
 
Reviewer:  Marie  Blomberg  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
This is a prospective cohort study performed in Indonesia evaluating maternal body mass index 
(BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) in relation to obstetric and neonatal outcome. There is 
also a comparison between earlier demographic data and dat a collected in the present study.  
 
Both the Asian definition of obesity and overweight and the one suggested by WHO.  
 
It is of great interest to present data concerning the role of obesity during pregnancy from 
different parts of the world.  
 
The main problem with this study is that it includes too much data making it confusing and in 
some way unstructured. To try to describe both BMI and GWG in the same manuscript is hard 
(own experience). Six tables and 3 figures are too much.  
 
One possibility is to divide the  manuscript into two but then there is a problem with the large 
amount of missing data on GWG.  
 
Another suggestion is to:  
 
Withdraw table 1 and table 6.  
 
Chose one o figure 1 -2 describe the rest in a few sentences in the result section  
 
Reduce the number of re ferences some of them are quite old.  
 
There should be no repeated results in the Discussion section (plenty at the moment) the 
discussion should be approximately 3 -4 pages instead of 7.  
 
Altrough the manuscript GWG could be reduced but not withdrawn (see above). I suggest that 
you not use too much and too little as description of low and excessive weight gain. Description 
is not consistent in the manuscript.  
 
Include GWG and missing data on  that variable in table 2.  
 
Table 5 (right from the statistical program?) is confusing and includes too much information.  
 
Figure 3: It is not possible to see which line is which.   
 
Maybe a flow chart of the inclusion process could replace descriptions bot h in text and tables 
(like area etc).  
 
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 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 recommend additional statistical review  
 
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 o f 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 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 competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
No conflicts of interest  
 
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