Table.
BMI versus other baseline characteristics in main mortality analyses
| 15·0 to <18·5 (n=36 882) | 18·5 to <20·0 (n=39 607) | 20·0 to <22·5 (n=116 045) | 22·5 to <25·0 (n=110 013) | 25·0 to <30·0 (n=90 612) | 30·0 to <40 (n=21 587) | Overall (n=414 746) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean BMI, kg/m2 (SD) | 17·2 (0·9) | 19·3 (0·4) | 21·3 (0·7) | 23·7 (0·7) | 26·8 (1·4) | 32·5 (2·3) | 23·2 (3·8) | |
| Factors strongly affected by adiposity | ||||||||
| Mean systolic blood pressure, mm Hg (SD) | 120 (17) | 124 (16) | 126 (14) | 129 (14) | 130 (16) | 133 (18) | 127 (15) | |
| Self-reported diabetes | 2% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 5% | |
| Major potential confounders | ||||||||
| Median or higher socioecomic status* | 36% | 42% | 50% | 59% | 66% | 68% | 55% | |
| No formal education | 28% | 25% | 21% | 17% | 14% | 12% | 18% | |
| Ever smoker (men only)† | 58% | 48% | 39% | 33% | 29% | 27% | 38% | |
| Ever weekly (or more frequently) alcohol drinker (men only)† | 43% | 35% | 29% | 25% | 22% | 24% | 28% | |
Results are standardised to the age and sex of the 414 746 participants. People with no follow-up at ages 35–69 years, those with pre-existing chronic disease at baseline (ie, heart attack, stroke, tuberculosis, asthma, or cancer), and those with missing or out-of-range BMI or systolic blood pressure were excluded. BMI=body-mass index.
*
From housing type and item ownership.
†
<0·1% of women in the study smoked or drank.