As part of the latest efforts to reverse the obesity epidemic, Public Health — Seattle & King County today is launching a new campaign to educate residents about the health impacts of consuming sugar-loaded beverages.

“Nearly one in three children in middle and high school locally is overweight or obese, an historic high,” said Dr. David Fleming, director and health officer for Public Health — Seattle & King County. “Sugar-loaded beverages are contributors to obesity and a large source of ‘empty’ calories with no nutritional value for kids. A much healthier alternative is water or low-fat milk.”

Sugar-loaded beverages such as soda, sports beverages, energy drinks and sweetened fruit drinks pose potential health risks for kids, including overweight and obesity, tooth decay and osteoporosis and brittle bones. For adults, sugar-loaded drinks have been linked to diabetes and high-blood pressure. Every year, King County spends $500 million for medical costs related to obesity.

Sugar-loaded beverages facts

• Among children milk consumption has decreased in recent decades, and non-diet soda has increased dramatically and now even surpasses milk consumption.

• For each additional serving of soda or juice drink a child consumes per day, a child’s chance of becoming overweight increases by 60 percent.

• One 20-ounce bottle of a typical soda has more than 16 teaspoons of sugar and 240 calories. That is more than 10 percent of the calories that an adult consumes each day.

The new education campaign is aimed at parents and features local online ads, a new video in English and Spanish and downloadable posters in seven languages. King County’s campaign builds on materials developed in New York City.

As part of the local Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative, aimed at long-lasting changes in community conditions that contribute to obesity and tobacco use, local organizations are working to increase healthier drink choices.