Final answer:
Poverty is the lifestyle factor among the options given that influences adolescent obesity. It affects access to healthy food and safe exercise spaces, contributing to higher consumption of high-calorie fast food and reduced physical activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which of the following is a lifestyle factor that influences adolescent obesity? Among the options provided, poverty is a lifestyle factor that directly influences adolescent obesity. Poverty can result in limited access to healthy food options and safe places for physical activity, leading individuals to consume more inexpensive, high-fat, and high-calorie foods. On the other hand, faulty regulation of metabolism, inability to recognize body cues about hunger, and the development of an abnormally large number of fat cells are more intrinsic and biological elements rather than lifestyle choices.
Obesity among adolescents is multifactorial, with roots both in genetics and the environment. While obesity can indeed be influenced by genetics, it is also strongly affected by environmental and lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise habits. Teens who consume excessive amounts of food or the wrong types of food, and engage in insufficient physical activity are at greater risk of becoming obese. It is also worth noting that socioeconomic factors, such as poverty, can limit access to nutritious food and safe places for exercise, thereby contributing to obesity.
Therefore, in the context of lifestyle factors, A. Poverty is the correct answer. Lifestyle choices, such as the types of foods consumed, levels of physical activity, and socioeconomic factors like poverty, significantly influence the risk of developing obesity during adolescence.