Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Anthropometric and blood parameters for the prediction of NAFLD among overweight 
and obese adults  
 
Version:  1 Date: 17 May 2018  
 
Reviewer: Chih -Horng Wu  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is a well -designed obse rvational study followed a clinical trial with consistent result.  
However, several general concepts to be concerned:  
First, the authors tried to use anthropometric and blood parameters to build a predict model for 
fatty liver with PDFF MRI. However, ultras ound or Fibroscan is a fast tool to access fatty liver 
conveniently. Is the complex prediction model really needed in clinical practice?  
Second, this observational study was built under a clinical trial. If the authors can predict CV 
events after combinati on of these biomarkers, the results will have more clinical significance.  
Third, generally, we hope to find NAFLD in patients with lean body size. Can you separate the 
population into overweight group or obese group to validate the model?  
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, plea se 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 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' below.  
 
I agree to the open  peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the  authors'  
responses.  I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do  not wish to be included in my named report can be i ncluded as confidential comments 
to the  editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Anthropometric and blood parameters for the prediction of NAFLD among overweight 
and obese adults  
 
Version:  1 Date: 17 May 2018  
 
Reviewer: Chih -Horng Wu  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is a well -designed obse rvational study followed a clinical trial with consistent result.  
However, several general concepts to be concerned:  
First, the authors tried to use anthropometric and blood parameters to build a predict model for 
fatty liver with PDFF MRI. However, ultras ound or Fibroscan is a fast tool to access fatty liver 
conveniently. Is the complex prediction model really needed in clinical practice?  
Second, this observational study was built under a clinical trial. If the authors can predict CV 
events after combinati on of these biomarkers, the results will have more clinical significance.  
Third, generally, we hope to find NAFLD in patients with lean body size. Can you separate the 
population into overweight group or obese group to validate the model?  
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, plea se 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 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' below.  
 
I agree to the open  peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the  authors'  
responses.  I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do  not wish to be included in my named report can be i ncluded as confidential comments 
to the  editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Anthropometric and blood parameters for the prediction of NAFLD among overweight 
and obese adults  
 
Version:  1 Date: 17 May 2018  
 
Reviewer: Chih -Horng Wu  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is a well -designed obse rvational study followed a clinical trial with consistent result.  
However, several general concepts to be concerned:  
First, the authors tried to use anthropometric and blood parameters to build a predict model for 
fatty liver with PDFF MRI. However, ultras ound or Fibroscan is a fast tool to access fatty liver 
conveniently. Is the complex prediction model really needed in clinical practice?  
Second, this observational study was built under a clinical trial. If the authors can predict CV 
events after combinati on of these biomarkers, the results will have more clinical significance.  
Third, generally, we hope to find NAFLD in patients with lean body size. Can you separate the 
population into overweight group or obese group to validate the model?  
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, plea se 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 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' below.  
 
I agree to the open  peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the  authors'  
responses.  I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do  not wish to be included in my named report can be i ncluded as confidential comments 
to the  editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant