Walk of Life

In his journal, Mr Vaught has mused on other factors that make Americans so fat. When he left San Diego at the start of his journey, he passed 21 fast food restaurants in four -and-a-half miles.

"I thought when I got into the country I'd leave that behind," he said. "But I've walked through the Midwest, the breadbasket, and it is one of the most unhealthy places on earth. You have acres of farmland, and you can't buy fresh fruit and veg. The last apple I ate came from South America - and it looked like it had rolled here."