Association between BMI and all-cause mortality by gender and age group.

Fig 4 shows the hazard ratios for BMI categories, relative to a BMI of 22.5–24.9, by race/ethnicity. Confidence bands represent 95% CI. The blue line represents all individuals. The red line depicts healthy, never-smoking individuals. Healthy defined as no self-reported history of cardiovascular disease or non-skin cancer or melanoma. (A) presents the hazard ratios among non-Hispanic Whites overall. (B) presents the hazard ratios for non-Hispanic Blacks. (C) presents the hazard ratios for Hispanics. (D) presents the hazard ratios among non-Hispanic Whites, excluding individuals who died within 2 years of follow-up. (E) presents the hazard ratios among non-Hispanic Blacks, excluding individuals who died within 2 years of follow-up. (F) presents the hazard ratios among Hispanics, excluding individuals who died within 2 years of follow-up. Please note that hazard ratios for BMI groups for all subjects and healthy, never-smokers are relative to different reference groups and thus may not be comparable.