A poll released yesterday by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press offers a couple of information points about the battle againsty obesity in the U.S.:

A bit more than half of Americans think the government should play a significant role in reducing obesity, but of 22 issues Pew asked its 1,504 respondents, the issue ranked last in importance. Nineteen percent rated it as the highest priority, compared with 14 percent who said the government should not take any role.

Not surprisingly, lots of Democrats want action, lots of Republicans don't, and the same percentage of independents urged action as did the overall sample: 57 percent. Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and young people were among the groups who urge government involvement at a higher rate than the full sample.

Pew's report and chart are here.