Association between BMI and all-cause mortality by gender.

Fig 2 shows the hazard ratios for BMI categories, relative to a BMI of 22.5–24.9, by gender. Confidence bands represent 95% CI. The blue line represents all subjects within subgroup. The red line depicts healthy, never-smoking subjects within subgroup. Healthy defined as no self-reported history of cardiovascular disease or non-skin cancer or melanoma. (A) presents the hazard ratios among males overall. (B) presents the hazard ratios for females overall. (C) presents the hazard ratios among males, excluding individuals who died within 2 years of follow-up. (D) presents the hazard ratios among females, 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.