Health reporter Elaine Grant shines a light on the epidemic itself, which is costing the U.S. more than $150 billion dollars a year in medical spending alone.

When Jennifer Riccio was in college, she started gaining weight. “I couldn’t really figure out what I was doing differently. In my mind I didn’t really have any difference in eating, or exercise habits at that age.”

Mystified, she visited doctor after doctor.

It was the beginning of a 15-year journey to determine why she kept putting on pounds.

She’s gotten some answers but her weight is still a problem.

In a way, she’s like the rest of the country.

In the last forty years, our collective weight has skyrocketed.

Even only 15 years ago, less than 14 percent of New Hampshire residents were obese.

Today, one of every four people living here falls into that category.

Figuring out why one person gains weight...
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