Steve Vaught
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
, which started after he accidentally killed two elderly pedestrians in 1990. 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.
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.
, but after reading the manuscript declared that it grossly misrepresented him and put words into his mouth. Bagley's film documentary, which has subsequently been finished, has not been distributed.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
man who walked across the United States of America in an attempt to lose weight. He left from his home in Oceanside, California
Oceanside, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
on April 10, 2005, and arrived at the George Washington Bridge
George Washington Bridge
The George Washington Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting the Washington Heights neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City to Fort Lee, Bergen County, New Jersey. Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1/9 cross the river via the bridge. U.S...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on May 9, 2006.
Motivation
Vaught says that he had gained weight in the first place because of depressionClinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, which started after he accidentally killed two elderly pedestrians in 1990. By the time he had started the journey he claims to have weighed 400 lbs
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
(180 kg). He states that he was not even able to walk across his local Target store
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
due to his obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
. He decided on the cross-country walk to lose weight and for the experience.
Journey
Throughout the journey, he kept a website, www.thefatmanwalking.com. He received a great deal of media attention, with some interviewers walking with him for a few miles at a time.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 foodFast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
industry for his failure to lose weight during his 3,000 mile trek. Interviewed at the end of the walk, Pierre Bagley, a Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
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.
Book deal and documentary film
Vaught signed a book deal with HarperCollinsHarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
, but after reading the manuscript declared that it grossly misrepresented him and put words into his mouth. Bagley's film documentary, which has subsequently been finished, has not been distributed.