Competitive Eating

You've most likely heard of competitive eating before and there's a great chance you may have even tried it your self as an amateur. I entered a couple of eating contests at local fairs in my day, particularly as a young girl but it was absolutely nothing much more than fun and games.

For some, nevertheless, competitive eating is something serious. So a lot so, in reality, that we now have Significant League Eating, an international ranking of the top competitors in this unusual sport. It even inspired the reality Tv show, "Man Versus Food."

This year's men's winner of the annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest ate 62 franks and buns in ten minutes and the first-ever women's winner ate 40 hot dogs. It is a fascination that is sweeping far much more than just our nation as nations all over the globe feature similar eating contests.

The bizarre sport of competitive eating is nothing short of a freak show to some individuals. Based on who you ask, it should not be regarded as a sport at all. Some call it gluttony, other people call it mental disorder- so what is it really?

A government watchdog group in Taiwan calls it a health hazard. "The frequent 'big-stomach' contests not only endanger health but violate the principle of fairness as the contestants who get sick are utilizing the national health insurance resources," stated the group, in a statement.

Whilst such contests are not illegal, the group considers them to be against social fairness and justice as well as harmful to health.

Is there any truth to the health hazards of such excessive eating? There is one small study attempting to find out as soon as and for all. The objective was "to assess the stomachs of a globe-class speed-eating champion and of a control topic during a speed-eating test in our gastrointestinal fluoroscopy suite to figure out how competitive speed eaters are in a position to eat so much so quick."

The study showed that a competitive eater seemed to lack the "satiety reflex" to cause them to quit eating and the stomach would inflate to an huge price to permit for the excess food.

"There is no real documentation of the dangers and dangers related with this sport," says Levine, a doctor in the study.

While some might think anyone who would consume that much food should have a mental disorder, there have also been no tests or studies carried out to date that clarify something concerning the mental state of individuals who choose to participate in such contests. For some, it may be mere curiosity. For other people, it is a way to stake their own small claim to fame.