This paper examines the effects of messages describing consequences of childhood obesity on Americans’ attitudes about obesity prevention policy and compares these attitudes by political ideology (conservative, moderate, and liberal). Using data from two nationally representative internet-based surveys with adult participants, researchers found that respondents considered several consequences of childhood obesity to be strong justification for obesity prevention policy. The majority of all survey respondents (60.0%) considered the long-term health consequences of obesity to be a strong justification for government action. Among conservatives, the messages describing the long-term health consequences and military readiness were rated highest (42.0% and 41.6%, respectively). Moderates judged a message about bullying as the second-strongest (62.1%) after long-term health consequences (63.9%). More than three-quarters (76.4%) of liberals rated a message about health care costs as a strong reason for government action–the highest-rated message among this group. The message describing the consequences of childhood obesity on military readiness increased conservatives’ perceptions on the seriousness of childhood obesity, their endorsement that non-individual actors (the government, food and beverage companies, and schools) bear responsibility for addressing obesity, and their support for policy action.