You may think it’s fun to watch speed eaters cobble down hotdogs this weekend, but the “sport” of competitive eating has some considerable health risks. While the percent of the speed eating population is not large enough to warrant a scientific study, several former speed eaters are dealing with obesity, clogged arteries, and other gastrointestinal problems.

One competitive eater even found that after a while, his stomach would not register being “full” when he ate normally. This condition, called peristalsis, means that the stomach is not contracting. Despite the health risks, however, many speed eaters look back on …read more