Most people, whether in or outside this country, assume the majority of Americans are fat.

MSNBC quoted a new study on Oct. 4 that “suggests that over the long haul, nine out of 10 men and seven out of 10 women will become overweight.”

NBC’s David Gregory talked to three women who said they were discriminated against because they were overweight. Nadine Thompson, one of the women being interviewed, said she was told to leave an airplane because of her size. Her job often requires her to travel, so she is suing the airline for size discrimination.

One of the major misconceptions of overweight people is they are lazy and don’t care about their self image. I argue there are many social hurdles that make it hard for most people to get in and stay in shape.

According to an article on www.epinet.org, the number of hours families work in this country has risen since 1979. Many people feel overworked and some may become stressed. Cortisol, a hormone that is released in response to stress, may contribute to fat storage in the abdominal region according to psychologist Kelly Brownell, who was cited in the study.

It’s quite possible that stress can lead to weight gain.

If parents are working increased hours and are stressed out during the week, kids are usually subjected to one of two choices: chicken or beef.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday the “use of fresh products in meals eaten at home has been on a slow decline for the last 20 years,” according to a new study by the NDP Group.

It’s clear the majority of fast-food is unhealthy, but the workday can make it hard for parents to cook homemade meals every night. These food choices can become habits and a proper diet for the entire family can be overlooked.

What about college students?

There are many students who work part-time while keeping a full class load here at NIU. I would think that the majority of those students find it difficult to fit exercise in their schedules.

This also applies to students who are actively involved with student organizations or Greek life. It’s tough just to find a free second some days, let alone find time to go to the Campus Recreation Center.

For Americans to be so lazy, we sure do work a lot!

The same NDP Group study said 61 percent of people want to lose at least 20 pounds. That fact alone destroys the argument overweight people don’t care about their self image.

There are not many people who would disagree that America is the most image-obsessed country in the world. We are constantly bombarded with images of the “perfect” body.

Commercials are overtly sexual – even when the product has no connection to sexuality – and popular magazines and TV shows can cause both men and women struggling with their image to resort to anorexia and bulimia just to fit in with the nation portrayed in these commercials and publications.

These social hurdles should not be excuses for people who are overweight, as obesity is linked to at least tens of thousands of deaths in America each year.

However, as Susan Bartlett, an assistant professor of medicine and an obesity researcher at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine said in an MSNBC article, Americans live in an “environment in which it’s hard not to become overweight or obese.”

It’s time that we stop size discrimination. The image of overweight people being lazy and apathetic about their image is a pure fallacy.

If the study is accurate, the vast majority of us will face this discrimination “over the long haul.”

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.