Steve Vaught
Steve Vaught, also known as The Fat Man Walking, is a California man who walked across the United States of America in an attempt to lose weight.[1][2] He left from his home in Oceanside, California on April 10, 2005, and arrived at the George Washington Bridge in New York City on May 9, 2006.
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[edit] Motivation
Vaught says that he had gained weight in the first place because of depression,[2] which started after he accidentally killed two elderly pedestrians in 1990.[2] By the time he had started the journey he claims to have weighed 400 lbs (180 kg). He states that he was not even able to walk across his local Target store due to his obesity. He decided on the cross-country walk to lose weight and for the experience.
[edit] Journey
Throughout the journey, he kept a website, www.thefatmanwalking.com.[2] He received a great deal of media attention, with some interviewers walking with him for a few miles at a time.[2]
[edit] Controversy
Vaught's journey was not without controversy. Questions were raised by both the media and fans as to whether Vaught caught rides and did not in fact walk every mile. Vaught was also still morbidly obese upon completion of his journey and in part, has blamed the fast food industry for his failure to lose weight during his 3,000 mile trek. Interviewed at the end of the walk, Pierre Bagley, a Texas filmmaker who traveled much of the journey with Vaught, stated that rather than the 110 pound weight loss claimed by Vaught, he believes the loss was no more than 40 pounds. Vaught refutes his claim stating that Bagley himself videotaped Vaught being weighed in Los Angeles and at the time he weighed 287lbs. Upon completion of the walk Vaught was filmed by the Discovery Channel again being weighed by Dr. Pamela Peeke and had gained back almost sixty pounds weighing in at 344lbs.
[edit] Book deal and documentary film
Vaught signed a book deal with HarperCollins, but after reading the manuscript declared that it grossly misrepresented him and put words into his mouth.[2] Bagley's film documentary, which has subsequently been finished, has not been distributed.[2]
[edit] Results
Vaught returned to California upon completing the walk. He refuses to step on a scale in front of witnesses. He insists that he has lost "some" weight, but will not allow anyone to see his weight.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "The Fat Man Walking Steve Vaught". http://walking.about.com/od/people/p/fatmanwalking.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g "'Fat man' walked into a wall". http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20060917-9999-2m17vaught.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15.[dead link]
[edit] Further reading
- J. Harry Jones (2006-05-08). "Weight-fighter's cross-country walk finally winding down". The San Diego Union-Tribune. http://signonsandiego.com./news/nation/20060508-9999-1m8vaught.html.
- Elizabeth LeSure, Associated Press (2006-05-10). "'Fat Man' Finishes Walking Trek in NYC". The Washington Post. http://washingtonpost.com./wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/10/AR2006051000342.html.
- J. Harry Jones (2006-04-08). "'Fat man' walking into role of international media star". The San Diego Union-Tribune. http://signonsandiego.com./news/northcounty/20060410-9999-1mc8vaught.html.
