Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Women’s perceived social support: Associations with post partum weight retention, health 
behaviors and depressive sympt oms 
 
Version: 0 Date: 05 Aug 2019  
 
Reviewer: Lorraine O Walker   
This manuscript examines relationship of partner and family/friends social support with 
behavioral and psychosocial factors previous shown to be related to postpartum weight retention. 
The literat ure review is succinct. The methods and findings are clearly described. The Discussion 
and limitations cover the main relevant aspects of the study. Thus, I have only two comments to 
offer.  
 
First, the study abstract states that social support may promote  healthful behaviors. Consistent 
with this health promotion perspective, I would have expected the authors to follow in the 
literature review and analysis on this health promotive theme, for example, prediction of 
achieving of healthier behaviors and attai ning one's pre -pregnancy weight, say being within 2 kg 
of it at 1 year postpartum. Rather, the analysis of postpartum weight turns to a risk perspective 
by use of substantial postpartum weight retention as the larger context for the study and the 
weight en dpoint (although the social support association with weight retention is non -
significant). Thus, I think there is a mixed paradigm in the study. This is probably true of many 
study which stress understanding prevention, but end up predicting unfavorable ou tcomes.   
 
Second, and this is minor point, but amount of "screen time" may be a more relevant measure 
than TV watching time as mothers are increasingly also reading news and using social media on 
phones, tablets, and computers. A comment in the Discussion  along those lines may be 
warranted.  
 
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 commen ts 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 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.  
 
I am able to assess the statisti cs 
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the qua lity 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 salar y 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 from the publicati on 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 th e 
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 decla re 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 inter ests. 
 
 
 
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to the editor s, which will not be published.  
 
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