Figure 1.

All-cause mortality and Level 1 cause-specific mortality outcomes in total study population (A) and in never-smokers only (B)

We used a three-level hierarchical classification of causes of death as used by the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study.¹⁶ All Level 1 outcomes (communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, and injuries and external causes) were studied. 5-year exclusion period applied for person-time and events after a BMI record. Dashed vertical lines represent WHO BMI category thresholds of 18·5 kg/m² (underweight to healthy), 25 kg/m² (healthy weight to overweight), and 30 kg/m² (overweight to obese). Estimates adjusted for age at BMI record, deprivation, calendar year, diabetes, alcohol status, and smoking (all as defined at date of BMI measure) and stratified for sex. The p values for overall association and p values for non-linearity were less than 0·0001 for all outcomes, in both full and never-smoker populations. HR=hazard ratio.