Question

Which of the following is not considered to be a key factor that contributes to obesity?

1) the generous portions provided by fast-food restaurants
2) learning to eat all that is placed on your plate
3) the fact that we require more calories as we get older
4) innate aberrations of metabolism
5) the fact that we require fewer calories as we get older

Answer 1

The incorrect factor related to obesity is the belief that we require more calories as we age. In fact, our calorie needs generally decrease with age due to a slower metabolism, making this a non-contributory factor to obesity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The factor not considered to be a key contributor to obesity is 'the fact that we require fewer calories as we get older'. This is because as we age, our metabolism typically slows down and we tend to require fewer calories to maintain our body weight, not more. Obesity is principally the result of consuming more calories than are expended, and factors such as large portions of fast food, learning to eat all food on one's plate, metabolic aberrations, lack of physical activity, socio-economic status, and genetics play significant roles in contributing to an individual's weight.

While overeating, especially in the presence of high calorie fast food due to affordability or availability, along with genetics and sedentary lifestyles, can lead to obesity, the notion that we require more calories as we age is inaccurate and therefore not a contributing factor.