It can’t get more uncomfortable than this: Asking people to pay more because of their size.  But most people, it seems, are just fine with that.

A poll by travel website Skyscanner found that 76 percent of people believe airlines should charge what amounts to a “fat tax” to overweight folks needing an extra seat. Only 22 percent of the 550 people questioned disapproved of a surcharge.

Obesity is a problem in the United States — all you have to do is look around to see how prevalent it is. But there are statistics to back up the view: In 2008, 34 percent of Americans were obese, the Journal of the American Medical Association said.

The Center for Disease Control defines obesity as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more.  Its latest study showed that only Colorado had a prevalence of obesity below 20 percent.

There is also little doubt that weight plays a role in health, and costs a bucketload of cash — obesity-related health care costs upward of $100 billion a year, some research shows.  An ABCNews report said obesity will cost the United States about $344 billion in medical-related expenses by 2018.

But pulling out a statistic and saying this is what obese means is much different than looking at someone and saying you’re too fat to fit here, pay us some money.

This isn’t a new issue. Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have a policy where “oversize” people need to buy a second seat and can claim a refund if the plane is not full. This followed complaints from neighboring passengers.