Do you know what you're drinking?
Coffee drinks are packed with calories, fat
Is that a double cheeseburger floating in your latte?
"God only knows how many calories are in here," Robin Lawless said on a recent hot afternoon in Government Center, eyeing the dollop of whipped cream and spiral of caramel sauce atop her caramel frappuccino. "I have no clue."
Here's a hint: A
As the obesity epidemic worsens, doctors, lawyers, and the public are becoming increasingly skeptical of the fast-food industry's combination of fat, refined sugar, caffeine, and scant nutrition information. But the Golden Arches aren't the only culprits behind rising rates of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Although coffee itself has no sugar or fat, the trimmings -- puffs of whipped cream, squirts of sugary syrups, and whole milk -- can transform an innocuous cup of coffee into a hearty meal.
"I'm a nutritionist, and I would never guess that the Strawberries & Creme frappuccino has 780 calories," said Jayne Hurley, a senior nutritionist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
The US Department of Agriculture recommends that people consume between 1,600 and 2,800 calories, depending on their gender and activity level. That means that for the most sedentary segment of the population, one 24-ounce Strawberries & Creme is nearly half what they should eat for a full day.
"When people order a Quarter Pounder, they know they're getting a Quarter Pounder," Hurley said. "They don't think it's health food. But I don't think people realize these coffee drinks are really milkshakes in disguise."
Beverages tend to keep people less full than solid food with the same number of calories, according to scientific studies. So, people may slurp down a second breakfast on the way to the office -- and still get hungry a few hours later.
"They're turning coffee into an obesity-causing epidemic," said Bruce Spiegelman, an obesity researcher at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Representatives from both Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts stress that people are free to choose healthier options by varying milk, sugar and whipped cream. At Dunkin' Donuts, frosty Coolattas are available with cream, whole milk, or skim, while Starbucks plans to add more low-calorie options this summer.
Nutrition information is also available online and in the stores. But do consumers think to ask?
In the Davis Square Dunkin' Donuts in Somerville, a shiny laminated booklet hangs on the wall behind the counter -- but employees say it is rarely requested. At Starbucks' stores, nutritional information is kept behind the counter. But none of the Davis Square baristas knew where to look during a recent visit. One suggested the Internet.
"Personal responsibility is a huge part of this, but there has to be corporate responsibility on their end," said Morgan Spurlock, who went on an infamous 30-day McDonald's binge in which he revealed fast food's hazardous health effects and elusive nutrition information in the documentary, "Super Size Me."
"Something like 75 percent of all fast-food purchases are impulse-buying purchases," Spurlock said. "Why not give me that information right at the store before I buy it?"
Few people seem to be under illusions that the drinks are healthy, though they don't necessarily realize the extent of their splurge.
"I am surprised," said Kathryn Bragdon when told of the caloric content of the Frappuccino she had just ordered"But usually I don't get this. It's just so hot out."
Elizabeth Metallinos-Katsaras, assistant professor of nutrition at Simmons College, studied a group of 21 college women who drank gourmet coffee beverages, and 20 who did not. She found that, on average, the gourmet coffee drinkers she studied consumed 32 more grams of sugar each day than the other group. They also consumed 200 more calories each day, but because the sample size was small, it isn't safe to conclude that all gourmet coffee-drinkers take in more calories.
"The good thing is it's fixable," Hurley said. "Skip the whipped cream and skip a quarter of your day's saturated fat." Substitute skim milk for whole milk and don't get the sugary syrup, she said.
The coffee companies also seem to be trying to bridge the knowledge gap.
In the next few days, Starbucks will begin issuing its nutritional information in pamphlets that can be taken home or studied before ordering.
But the busy people who buy the drinks on the way to work in the morning, as an afternoon treat, or as a pick-me-up on the way to get the kids, may also need to bone up on basic nutrition information.
Hurley said: "Be careful what you order."
Carolyn Johnson can be reached at cjohnson@globe.com. 
