Article on “Science of Speed Eating”
SPTimes.com has an article about Sunday’s “Science of Speed Eating” documentary.
The second half of the show follows gastroenterologist Dr. David Metz as he tries to figure out if there’s anything qualitatively different about how competitive eaters digest. To this end, Janus eats 36 hot dogs and radioactive scrambled eggs with a sidecar of barium smoothie.
The conclusion? Competitive eaters seem to relax their muscles in such a way that postpones peristalsis (waves of muscular contraction in the stomach that break down food into smaller pieces). Their stomachs become, as Dr. Metz notes, “giant flaccid bags,” four times their normal size. Their stomachs remain inert, their brains don’t experience satiation, and the eating machines keep eating.
“Science of Speed Eating” videos & blog entry
(From Dan Cesareo) Two new trailers from the “Science of Speed Eating” documetary, which will be televised on the National Geographic channel on Sunday, are embedded in a blog entry on the National Geographic website. One of the trailers introduces Sonya Thomas. Sonya will apparently attempt to eat 18 pounds of food in the program.
Coney Island weather vs. Kobayashi’s results
Historical weather data from JFK airport (which presumably is the same as the weather on Coney Island) is available at wunderground.com. Using this archive, it is difficult to discern any connection between the weather and Kobayashi’s performance at the Nathan’s finals.
(weather data is from approximately 12:50 pm)
2001 50 HDB 71.1 °F / 21.7 °C 93% humidity, overcast
2002 50.5 HDB 96.1 °F / 35.6 °C 40% humidity, partly cloudy
2003 44.5 HDB 81.0 °F / 27.2 °C 72% humidity, clear
2004 53.5 HDB 77.0 °F / 25.0 °C 64% humidity, mostly cloudy
2005 49 HDB 78.1 °F / 25.6 °C 48% humidity, scattered clouds
2006 53.75 HDB 84.9 °F / 29.4 °C 65% humidity, haze
Science of Speed Eating clip available
(from Dan Cesareo) A clip of next month’s “Science of Speed Eating” documentary on the National Geographic channel is available on the documentary producer’s website, bigfishdc.com
Contest footage from last summer’s Waffle House contest, Cherokee ribs, and Atlanta Zoo qualifier appears in the preview.
update The clip can be downloaded directly from http://bigfishdc.com/BIG%20FISH/Our%20Work_files/Speedeaters_web.mov
Air conditioning benefit disputed
A letter to the Brooklyn Paper disputes Gersh Kuntzman’s assertion that Joey Chestnut’s mark of 59.5 received assistance from the Arizona Mills air conditioning:
Gersh is spreading lies — like the one that air-conditioning has a major effect on competitive eaters. It’s false! These eaters have been training — and air conditioning, let me assure you, is not a big factor.
Capacity is the only issue, and air conditioning does not change that.
The author lives in North Carolina, so he had the ability to show off his hot weather hot dog eating expertise at Concord Mills.
“Science of Speed Eating” to air July 8
From a Bubba Yarbrough email:
I just received an advanced copy from National Geographic with the air dates and time. It will air July 8 at 9pm et/pt. It features Me (Bubba) tim and Sonya. Tim is run through some very exhaustic digestive testing and Sonya and I go through some training and other stuff Overall it looks great.
update TVWeek has a preview (from Rhonda Evans)
“Dream Vision” gives Gal Sone & Shirota a checkup
japanprobe reports that the program “Dream Vision” did an episode about the science of competitive eaters. Gal Sone and Nobuyuki “The Giant” Shirota were given an MRI exam after eating over 100 sushi each. The body temperature after eating was also observed. Two clips from the program are available in the episode.
R Suzuki also has a blog entry about the program.
Gal Sone examined for AERA magazine article
I want a doctor to take your picture
So I can look at you from inside as well
(From R Suzuki) Natsuko “Gal” Sone submitted to a medical examination at Kitasato University hospital for an article in the current issue of AERA magazine, published by the Asahi Tribune. The objective of the investigation was to determine how Gal Sone could eat as much as she does and not gain weight: (automatically translated)
The large quantity the stomach which can eat and, however much eating, it united the body which does not get fat “Muse gal 曽 root of appetiteâ€. It probably is to be possible to know the secret of that body with metabolic coming from abroad?
As for doing the Kitasato University hospital. Physique inspection, blood inspection and inspection of breath and the inspection of the gene which which is related to CT scan and obesity relate to inquiry and energy exchange were done.
National Science Foundation producing competitive eating video
Burrito Blog reports that the National Science Foundation requested permission to use footage of a burrito eating contest in an educational video. The purpose of that video is not mentioned. After receiving the rights to use the contest video, the NSF responded that they would use video from another source for the project. It would be interesting to learn if anyone else in competitive eating has been contacted by the NSF.
KGO-TV on the science behind competitive eating
KGO TV has an article and video on the science of competitive eating in which a gastroenterologist offers his opinion on why competitive eaters can eat as much as they do. Bob Shoudt is interviewed and segments from the Philadelphia Nathan’s qualifier in which Sonya Thomas and Pat Philbin competed against Humble Bob is displayed. The upcoming National Geographic documentary is not mentioned.
“The Science of Speed Eaters” coming to National Geographic channel
The Andrews Air Force base website has an article about Sonya Thomas, who manages the Burger King at that location. The article says that Sonya was filmed for a documentary to be televised on the National Geographic Channel in 2007 called “The Science of Speed Eaters” Tim Janus and Loren Yarbrough are also expected to appear in that program.
Updated Big Fish DC, the production company, has a program description:
In this thrilling hour, we’ll take viewers inside the bellies of competitive eaters and see how the human body can be pushed to its gastronomical limit. We will follow an up and coming southern eater, Bubba, a father of two, as he tries to reach the big time in speed eating. We’ll meet famed 105 lb. Sonya “Black Widow” Thomas – a woman who out eats men four times her size. We’ll follow a champion eater as for the first time, the medical community studies the physiological changes that allow a person to consume over 50 hotdogs in ten minutes, with no apparent ill effects. NCG goes inside the world of competitive eating and brings viewers what until now, has never been seen.
Bodybuilding supplement company sponsors decentralized eating contests
Controlled Labs, a bodybuilding supplement company, has sponsored eating contests for hard boiled eggs and cans of tuna. What makes their contests unique is they do not take place in a central location. Instead, competitors record their efforts and upload videos of their performances to youtube or Google video. A clock must be visible in the video at all times. Videos of the winning performances, 12 hardboiled eggs in a minute and 6.75 cans of tuna in 3 minutes are available on line. The company is currently seeking ideas for the food to be used in its third eating contest. Winners receive a year’s supply of Black Hole, an appetite enhancer that suppresses the impulse to feel full after eating a large meal.
The connections between bodybuilding and competitive eating are stronger than an outside observer would expect. Not only is Kobayashi an avid bodybuilder, several other top eaters including Tim Janus, Bob Shoudt and Chip Simpson are into weightlifting as well. It would be interesting to see if Sonya Thomas working out with weights would improve her eating ability.
UK researchers construct artificial stomach
(from slashfood) The BBC reports that The Institute of Food Research have built a stomach simulator to enable better understanding of the human digestion process. There is no word on whether the artificial stomach will participate in the mince pie eating competition later this month.
You are here
(This is not competitive eating related, but I thought it was too cool not to share)
(From Tuesday Morning Quarterback) Everyone reading this blog can be found on the small blue green dot between Saturn’s rings (as far as I know).
This picture was taken by the Cassini probe. Click on either picture to see the full sized photgraph.
Nature vs. Nurture for competitive eaters (new poll)
megamunch has a new blog entry about the role of raw inherent eating ability versus training, technique and experience in becoming a top eater. The new poll asks what percentage of the population could become a top ranked eater with essentially unlimited training and resources.
Joey Chestnut in USA Today
USA Today has an article about Joey Chestnut including quotes from doctors about the medical aspects of eating 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes. The USA Today website also has a new picture of Joey with the AP article about him.
Comparing eating records in different disciplines
Mike Woolridge of the UC Berkeley School of Information has written a paper titled Comparing Apples and Oranges: Normalizing Competitive Eating Records across Food Disciplines, which calculates and compares the rates of ingestion for 23 records on the IFOCE website.
The University of Kansas paper on competitive eating
The University of Kansas student newspaper has a good article about competitive eating focusing on Pat Bertoletti. A gastroenterologist is also interviewed who says he would like to study the stomachs of competitive eaters in the hope of finding a treatment for dyspepsia.
The unsolved mysteries of competitive eaters
The Richmond Times Dispatch has an article about competitive eating. The main point of the article is that no medical research has been performed on competitive eaters to find out what enables them to do what normal people cannot.
How to avoid weight gain on 10,000 calories a day
Powerlifter Marty Gallagher has an article about his theory on how the more slender competitive eaters consume massive amounts of food and avoid gaining weight. He says that eating 6 meals spread throughout the day will produce less weight gain than one massive meal containing the same amount of calories. Sonya Thomas eating one giant meal seems to disprove Gallagher’s theory.
Washington Post Science of Competitive Eating Article
Less than two weeks after their long profile of Sonya Thomas, the Washington Post has another lengthy article about competitive eating focusing on the anatomical aspects of competitive eaters. Don “Moses” Lerman, “Crazy Legs” Conti, Arnie “Chowhound” Chapman, and AICE rising star Ian Hickman are all quoted. Hickman moved to Sterling in northern Virginia to be closer to more eating contests which is interesting because the AICE schedule around the DC area does not seem full enough to justify a relocation.
Corrected 11/29 10:53 pm – Ian Hickman states in the comments his main reason for moving east was not to be closer to eating contests.
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