Competitive speed eating: truth and consequences.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our investigation was to assess the stomachs of a world-class speed-eating champion and of a control subject during a speed-eating test in our gastrointestinal fluoroscopy suite to determine how competitive speed eaters are able to eat so much so fast.


CONCLUSIONS
Our observations suggest that successful speed eaters expand the stomach to form an enormous flaccid sac capable of accommodating huge amounts of food. We speculate that professional speed eaters eventually may develop morbid obesity, profound gastroparesis, intractable nausea and vomiting, and even the need for a gastrectomy. Despite its growing popularity, competitive speed eating is a potentially self-destructive form of behavior.
Levine
Marc S
MS
Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. marc.levine@uphs.upenn.edu
Spencer
Geoffrey
G
Alavi
Abass
A
Metz
David C
DC
D000328:Adult; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*