We can probably all agree that flying on commercial airlines these days is less than glamorous. It seems to me that the seats have gotten smaller and don't recline nearly as much as they used to which prevents me from attaining my favorite fetal position while I sleep. No matter the amount of squirming or twitching, you can never seem to get comfortable enough to actually fall asleep, so it's a guarantee you'll be exhausted when you land at your destination.

A recent topic of airline controversy is that some Airlines have begun charging overweight passengers extra if they are too large to fit in their seats. Apparently last year Southwest Airlines received something like 700 complaints from squished passengers who felt their space was violated by the larger passenger next to them. This has sparked a chain reaction of commercial airlines cracking down on obese passengers.

I always wondered how this type of change is implemented and regulated. From things I've read, airline employees will scope out overweight passengers getting ready to board their flights and force them into a private seat "fitting" before the rest of the passengers board the plane. If these larger people cannot fit comfortably in their seats with the armrest down, then they are asked to purchase the seat next to them, upgrade to First class or wait for another flight where by chance there's an empty seat available next to them for "their comfort and safety."

The topic of obesity is a sensitive one, but the truth is that it's an out of control epidemic in the United States that is spreading globally. I can certainly sympathize with both sides of the airline argument, but 31% of Americans are obese and those numbers are climbing higher every year. We are the most overweight country in the world with no end in sight. When will it stop? When people are banned from Airplanes, buses, trains, etc?

Genetically some people are predisposed to different body types which make them more prone to gaining body fat, but the fact that each generation is getting heavier proves that our environment and lifestyle are the leading factors in weight gain. We eat more and move less than our ancestors. The consumption of processed foods that are high in sugar and saturated fat are skyrocketing. We spend far too much time on our butts in front of computers and television sets than ever before and make excuses for why we can't do things.

I'm not sure that preventing overweight people from flying will inspire them to exercise more and choose healthy foods to eat so they in turn can sit more comfortably in an airplane, but it might.

What's your opinion?

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