And because ingesting a lot of food very quickly is key, competitive eaters also must train their throats to swallow large amounts without choking. This is accomplished by swallowing entire mouthfuls of water at once, which is no easy feat.
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Do competitive eaters have bulimia?
In fact, some have openly spoken out about this practice. It’s like controlled bulimia,” Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti, a former professional competitive eater, told the AV Club in 2014. “It’s bulimia where you get paid for it. It’s me trading on an eating disorder for money.”
Are competitive eaters allowed to vomit?
The researchers said the competitive eater, having lost the ability to feel full, could become obese. Another possible issue is an eater could stretch their stomach so much that it no longer could contract and thus become unable to pass food. This condition, called gastroparesis, causes nausea and vomiting.
Do competitive eaters have an eating disorder?
Competitive eaters face other risks, according to medical experts. The training and competitions not only can cause gastric ruptures and drop sodium levels to dangerously low levels that might lead to seizures but also can trigger eating disorders, said Kim Dennis, an eating disorder expert from Chicago.
How do pro eaters stay skinny?
Perhaps part of the reason is because most of the calories competitive eaters take in aren’t absorbed by the body. The small intestine recognizes when it doesn’t need nutrients, Fleischer said. In the case of a big eating competition, most of the food, he said, exits the small intestine and is not absorbed.
Why are professional eaters skinny?
Many competitive eaters fast before and after an event. In fact, being thin allows you to eat more during a contest, according to the “belt of fat” theory, which posits that belly fat restricts the stomach’s ability to expand.
Why do competitive eaters drink water?
Competitive eaters practice by eating and drinking vast amounts in order to stretch out their stomachs for competition. For six weeks before the 2015 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, Matt Stonie trained by eating up to 60 hot dogs in a sitting โฆ
Why do competitive eaters drink diet Coke?
Competitive eaters learn to stretch and relax their stomachs to fit in more food by eating large amounts of low-calories foods and liquids including water, diet soda, watermelon and cabbage.
What does competitive eating do to your body?
Scientists have studied the bodies of competitive eaters like Chestnut and Sudo, and found that their stomachs don’t contract normally. Competitive eaters can relax their stomachs to hold more food, but the sport can take a toll on normal kidney, liver, and heart functioning.
Who is the best competitive eater?
- # 1. Joey Chestnut. Westfield, IN.
- # 2. Geoffrey Esper. Oxford, MA.
- # 3. Miki Sudo. Tampa, FL.
- # 4. Nick Wehry. Tampa, FL.
- # 5. Matt Stonie. Las Vegas, NV.
- # 6. Darron Breeden. Orange, VA.
- # 7. Gideon Oji. Morrow, GA.
- # 8. Max Suzuki. Tokyo, Japan.
How much do competitive eaters make?
The American competitive eater has earned at least cool $600,000 from winning contests, according to The New York Post. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest pays its winner $10,000, so Chestnut’s taken home $120,000 just from that contest alone (though he could make $10,000 more in 2021).
How do you train for competitive eating?

What does a competitive eaters stomach look like?
The competitive eater’s stomach, the researchers noted, was distinctly different โ “a massive distended, food-filled sac occupying most of the upper abdomen.” It showed “little or no gastric peristalsis,” the squeezing motion that helps break down food.
How do competitive eaters stretch their stomachs?
Competitive eaters learn to stretch and relax their stomachs to fit in more food by eating large amounts of low-calories foods and liquids including water, diet soda, watermelon and cabbage.
Why do competitive eaters eat so fast?

What is the most calories someone has eaten in a day?
‘World’s strongest man’ Brian Shaw eats 12,000 calories a day.
What do competitive eaters do to not gain weight?
He says many train by drinking water and eating tons of filling, low-calorie foods to “teach” their stomachs to expand. In the 14 to 16 hours leading up to the competition, Michelle says she’ll stop eating and start drinking lots of water to keep her stomach stretched.
How do you train to be a big eater?
- Sit a Restaurant Challenge!
- Find a YouTube Challenge and Film Yourself Attempting it!
- Practice! Practice! Practice!
- Get in the Best Shape Possible!
- Compete in a Professional Eating Contest!
Who is the world’s fastest eater?
Joey Chestnut Joey Chestnut is, by any measure, the greatest eater of all time. Owner of 43 world records in 43 different disciplines, Chestnut has won Nathan’s competition more than any other entrant and has broken his own records numerous times in the process.
Why do competitive eaters drink Gatorade?
Electrolytes and carbohydrates help athletes refuel and rehydrate. This is what makes sports drinks popular. Electrolytes help regulate the body’s fluid balance while the carbs provide energy. Gatorade claims their product hydrates better than water because of these additional ingredients.
How much water do competitive eaters drink?
Body builders or people who work out a lot make good competitive eaters. People who have intense and regimented exercise schedules tend to eat five or six meals a day, and drink 1.5 to 2.5 gallons of water, Salem says. This means that they’re used to having a lot in their stomach.
What happens after hot dog eating contest?
After the contest, he said he starts sweating, and people have said it smells like hot dogs. Chestnut also told Insider that it takes two full days to start feeling normal after a competition.
Does Coca Cola help break down food?
Coca-Cola, due to its carbonic and phosphoric acid, has a pH of 2.6 and resembles the natural gastric acid that’s thought to be important for fiber digestion, researchers found. In addition, the sodium bicarbonate and carbon dioxide bubbles in the beverage might enhance the dissolving effect.
How do you stretch out your stomach?
Get on your hands and knees, and tuck your head downward as you arch your back, similar to how a cat does it. Extend the neck all the way upwards, and drop your belly all the way downwards, stretching the abdominal muscles. Hold for 20 seconds, then return to the starting position. Repeat 3 to 4 times.
What does diet Coke have to do with eating disorders?
Individuals with eating disorders, particularly bulimia nervosa, consumed more diet soda than controls. Eating disorder symptoms that reflect increased appetitive drive or increased weight concerns were associated with increased diet soda intake.