Title: Sex- and reproductive status-specific relationships between body composition and non-
alcoholic fatty liver disease
Version: 5 Date: 18 Sep 2023
Reviewer's report:
The authors have answered some, but not all of my queries, and at times did not make the changes
in text. For example, Point 1 about menopause; the choice of covariates. This information is
important to the text.
By adjusting for BMI and body fat - you are adjusting for the thing in the model - fatness. Why
not adjust for fat mass and Height instead to avoid colinearity?
For the normalisation of the data (using Z-scores) - I think you misunderstood my suggestion.
One can use Z-scores to compare (using the same units of measurement), the contribution of
different body composition measures to the outcome. You will not 'lose the unique information
carried by the previous data' as this will be reflected in the variability.
I still believe that it is appropriate to test the interactions (with sex and then menopause
separately) to see if the sub-group analysis is appropriate and if the relationship do indeed differ
between groups.
The authors have added 'progression' to the description of steatosis. However, this would assume
a longitudinal design. I would suggest changing this to reflect the cross-sectional design of the
study.
There is still no power calculation analysis included.
Title: Sex- and reproductive status-specific relationships between body composition and non-
alcoholic fatty liver disease
Version: 5 Date: 18 Sep 2023
Reviewer's report:
The authors have answered some, but not all of my queries, and at times did not make the changes
in text. For example, Point 1 about menopause; the choice of covariates. This information is
important to the text.
By adjusting for BMI and body fat - you are adjusting for the thing in the model - fatness. Why
not adjust for fat mass and Height instead to avoid colinearity?
For the normalisation of the data (using Z-scores) - I think you misunderstood my suggestion.
One can use Z-scores to compare (using the same units of measurement), the contribution of
different body composition measures to the outcome. You will not 'lose the unique information
carried by the previous data' as this will be reflected in the variability.
I still believe that it is appropriate to test the interactions (with sex and then menopause
separately) to see if the sub-group analysis is appropriate and if the relationship do indeed differ
between groups.
The authors have added 'progression' to the description of steatosis. However, this would assume
a longitudinal design. I would suggest changing this to reflect the cross-sectional design of the
study.
There is still no power calculation analysis included.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Sex- and reproductive status-specific relationships between body composition and non-
alcoholic fatty liver disease
Version: 5 Date: 18 Sep 2023
Reviewer's report:
The authors have answered some, but not all of my queries, and at times did not make the changes
in text. For example, Point 1 about menopause; the choice of covariates. This information is
important to the text.
By adjusting for BMI and body fat - you are adjusting for the thing in the model - fatness. Why
not adjust for fat mass and Height instead to avoid colinearity?
For the normalisation of the data (using Z-scores) - I think you misunderstood my suggestion.
One can use Z-scores to compare (using the same units of measurement), the contribution of
different body composition measures to the outcome. You will not 'lose the unique information
carried by the previous data' as this will be reflected in the variability.
I still believe that it is appropriate to test the interactions (with sex and then menopause
separately) to see if the sub-group analysis is appropriate and if the relationship do indeed differ
between groups.
The authors have added 'progression' to the description of steatosis. However, this would assume
a longitudinal design. I would suggest changing this to reflect the cross-sectional design of the
study.
There is still no power calculation analysis included.
assistant