Digestion
How can speed-eaters push their digestion tracks to such extreme limits?
Every year, thousands of speed-eaters compete in competitive eating competitions, with some being able to consume over 20,000 calories in 10 minutes. Digestion is a process everyone experiences, yet many may not think about its complexity. After eating multiple times throughout the day, you might find yourself feeling extremely hungry or even unwell at the thought of food. Many mechanical processes during digestion convert food we eat into nutrients our body needs. An adult body needs between 1600 and 3000 calories in a day, but the body can only eat a certain amount of food until feeling full (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
Digestion is made up of many different systems all working together to be efficient and provide for the body. It begins when the food is chewed and mixed with saliva, which contains salivary amylase, an enzyme that begins the process of breaking down carbohydrates into simple sugars. The resulting product is a soft mass called bolus. The bolus then travels through the esophagus by muscular contractions into the stomach. The bolus is then mixed with gastric juices, including hydrochloric acid and pepsin, another enzyme that begins breaking down proteins (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). During mechanical digestion, the stomach transforms the bolus into a semi-liquid substance known as chyme. The chyme then enters the duodenum, the start of the small intestine, where most digestion and nutrient absorption happens. In the duodenum, bile helps enzymes break down fats by reducing them into smaller pieces. This allows pancreatic enzymes, such as amylase, lipase, and proteases, break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into their simplest forms. The nutrients are then absorbed and sent to the liver, which processes and sends the nutrients throughout the body for energy, growth, and repair. Any remaining undigested food enters the large intestine, where most of the remaining water and electrolytes are absorbed. The large intestine contains beneficial bacteria that help digest fiber and other indigestible material. These bacteria ferment undigested carbohydrates and fiber, producing short-chain fatty acids that can be absorbed for energy (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
The digestion process is the same for nearly all people; however, there's an exception for speed-eaters. During competitions, speed-eaters have to consume a large amount of food, which the normal digestion process wouldn’t be able to handle. Speed-eaters have to alter their digestive system to consume large quantities of food. Eating is like all sports; it requires years of training to master in order for the body to perform well. Competitive eaters train for years, consuming large amounts of food and pushing through even when full. The results of this training involve altering gastric physiology. This alteration allows the stomach to expand and hold a large amount of food (Balthazar, 2007). This process happens because the stomach progressively expands into a giant flaccid sac occupying most of the upper abdomen. Additionally, the gastric peristalsis process, which facilitates the breakdown of food, is absent, ensuring that nearly none of the consumed food enters the duodenum, where most digestion occurs, enabling speed-eaters to continue eating.
Competitive eating completely alters the normal digestion process, leading to substantial changes in the body. When the stomach begins to enlarge without food entering the duodenum, the body does not register fullness, allowing the speed-eater to consume more. While this is advantageous in competitions, it also means speed-eaters may never feel full and satisfied in normal life. They must be very careful with their eating habits, following strict dietary plans, as their bodies do not send standard signals to the brain that indicate fullness. If speed-eaters are not careful and eat indiscriminately, they risk developing morbid obesity (Balthazar, 2007). The issue extends beyond monitoring food intake; it also concerns stomach size. One significant worry is that a speed-eater's stomach may struggle to return to its normal size, potentially leading to nausea and vomiting and may even require surgical intervention (Balthazar, 2007).
Digestion is similar in most individuals, but some have learned to change their digestive systems to consume a large amount of food through years of training. Competitive eaters are able to stop the flow of food into the duodenum, allowing them to eat beyond normal limits, albeit with potential consequences (Balthazar, 2007). Altering the digestive system has many implications for competitive eaters in their daily lives. Competitive eating may push the body to extreme limits, but it constantly challenges participants to maintain balance and avoid long-term health issues.
References
Balthazar, E. J. (2007). Imaging of the digestive system. American Journal of Roentgenology, 188(3), 609–620. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.07.2342
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, August 22). Digestive system. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/7041-digestive-system
Fox 11 News. (2023, July 4). Joey Chestnut’s calorie count at the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest revealed. FOX 11 Los Angeles. https://www.foxla.com/news/joey-chestnuts-calorie-count-at-the-nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest-revealed
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2017, June). Digestive system: How it works. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works
Science Learning Hub. (n.d.). Digestion chemistry: Introduction. Science Learning Hub. https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1826-digestion-chemistry-introduction