The Washington Post has published a spectacular piece of journalism about the childhood obesity crisis. No one intersted in public or personal healthcare issues should miss it. No parent should be left behind without reading it.

The multi-day feature includes explainers about the biology of childhood obesity, a timeline showing how we got into this mess, interviews with obese kids and their parents, the outcomes of public and private efforts to combat the epidemic, and more.

But the Post also asked the three candidates for President for their thoughts about how they'd respond to the childhood obesity crisis. The results are telling. A brief excerpt of responses provided by candidates' staff:

As president, how would you make the issue of childhood obesity a national health priority?

Clinton: "Clinton has . . . pledged to ban junk food in schools by requiring all schools that participate in the school lunch or breakfast programs to make available only foods that meet or surpass [U.S. Department of Agriculture] nutrition standards. And she has proposed . . . to make the school breakfast program universal for all students in low-income communities and to double the summer feeding program."

Obama: "Obama would convene a high-level task force [for] regularly examining federal budgets, policies and programs. . .; identifying opportunities for coordination and collaboration across departments; and establishing consensus regarding priorities for action. Equally important, Obama will ensure the departments had the appropriate resources and authorities to implement any recommendations from the task force."

McCain: "McCain . . . believes that solving the problem of obesity in children can help prevent a lifetime of chronic health conditions. To accomplish that, we must do a better job of teaching children and their parents about child health, nutrition and exercise."

Interesting to see where they line up: Clinton favors the most explicit federal role; Obama sees leadership and coordination of efforts; McCain prescribes broad education of individuals. All mirror the candidates' general policy inclinations.

Read the complete candidates positions on this childhood obesity issue.