Why Would Anyone Enter a Hot Dog Eating Contest?

While watching this year’s annual Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July, I wondered what devouring dozens of hot dogs all within the span of 10 minutues would have on one’s blood glucose level.

Joey Chestnut won for the “Mustard Belt” for the 11th time after eating 74 hot dogs and buns within the 10 minute time period. He broke his previous record of 72, which he established last year. 

I don’t know if anyone has ever tested any of the competitive eaters in the hours after the contest, but my guess is that that all of them would have extremely high levels of blood sugar coursing through their veins. Those of us who experience spikes of blood glucose after eating just one sandwich or one single slice of pizza can’t imagine stuffing our bodies with 74 hot dogs so quickly, all at one time.

One estimate of how many calories Mr. Chestnut consumed within those 10 mintues was 22,200. His meal also contained and estimated 1850 grams of carbs, along with  296 grams of sugar and 814 grams of protein. That carb count might be a few years’ worth of carbs for followers of a Keto diet who limit themselves to just 20 carbs per day.

So why would anyone want to put themselves through this ordeal? Sure, there is some prize money to win. Chestnut claimed this year’s prize of $10,000, but considering what he puts his body through year after year, this kind of money hardly seems enough.

And, remember, he and the other competitors are not just doing this once a year on a dare at some family barbecue. They have to condition their bodies to handle a tremendous amount of food entering their stomachs all within just a few minutes. What we see on the Fourth of July is simply the culmination of a very disciplined course of conditioning and training that allows them to eat more food than any of the rest of us can imagine.

One day, perhaps, there will be a study on what the long-term impact is on someone participating in these kinds of eating contests. Until then, all of us can just sit back every Fourth of July and have fun wondering what Joey Chestnut’s blood glucose level must be after he consumes 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes.