Do challenge eaters throw up after? The truth behind competitive eating's biggest secret

January 3, 2026 •

4 min read

According to Major League Eating rules, vomiting during a contest, known as a “reversal of fortune,” leads to immediate disqualification. So, do challenge eaters throw up after their challenges? The answer depends on a number of factors, including their physical conditioning, the amount of food consumed, and their personal health practices.

Quick Summary

Vomiting during an eating competition is forbidden and results in disqualification. While trained professionals manage immense food intake through preparation and recovery, some still experience significant digestive distress. The practice is fraught with health risks, including potential long-term damage, and anecdotal evidence suggests purging can occur afterward, especially among less-conditioned participants.

Key Points

Disqualification for Vomiting: Competitive eating rules strictly prohibit vomiting during a contest, calling it a 'reversal of fortune', which leads to immediate disqualification.
Pros Manage, Don't Purge: Professional eaters train rigorously to expand stomach capacity and manage the food, and many claim they do not intentionally throw up afterwards, though they do experience significant digestive distress.
Amateurs are at Higher Risk: Casual or amateur challenge eaters are far more likely to experience severe nausea and vomiting after an event due to a lack of training and conditioning.
Serious Health Consequences: The long-term risks include potentially irreversible stomach stretching, gastroparesis, and a loss of the body’s ability to feel full.
Purging Carries Major Dangers: For those who do induce vomiting post-contest, the health risks are severe, including esophageal tears, electrolyte imbalances, and heart problems, similar to those with bulimia.
Extensive Recovery for Pros: Top-tier eaters like Joey Chestnut engage in fasting and intense exercise routines outside of competition to mitigate health impacts and recover from events.

The Rules: Disqualification for a "Reversal of Fortune"

In the structured world of professional competitive eating, strict rules govern what happens during a contest. The act of vomiting, or what is euphemistically called a “reversal of fortune,” is a direct path to disqualification. Judges are vigilant, and any food expelled from the mouth after being swallowed can mean an immediate end to the competitor's chances at victory. This rule is in place to ensure fair play and, most importantly, to protect the participants from obvious immediate health risks. A famous example from the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest showed a loophole in this rule; as long as the contestant manages to re-swallow the expunged food before it touches the table, they can avoid disqualification. However, there is no rule preventing competitors from purging after they have left the stage and the official contest period has ended. This leads to the crucial distinction between what is permissible during a contest and what can happen in private.

The Professionals' Method: Training and Management

Professional competitive eaters, like Joey Chestnut, do not simply show up and eat. Their ability to consume vast quantities of food in a short time is the result of rigorous, and sometimes dangerous, training. This includes water loading to expand stomach capacity, often practiced under controlled conditions. Professional eaters also manage their body and intake carefully outside of events through strict diets and intense exercise. Their bodies are conditioned to handle extreme stress, and top pros often claim to experience only exhaustion and heavy sweating after a contest, not nausea or vomiting.

The Aftermath for Professionals

Even for the most conditioned eaters, the digestive system is put under incredible strain. Professional eater Joey Chestnut has confirmed that after a contest, he gains a significant amount of weight in a very short time, which is then lost over several days through fasting and the natural course of digestion. This process is highly unpleasant and involves intense gastrointestinal distress, including gas and copious, expedited bowel movements, but often does not include vomiting for top-level professionals. Their bodies are trained to manage and process the food without the 'reversal' that defines an amateur's painful experience.

Amateur vs. Professional Eaters: A Risky Divide

For amateurs or casual participants in eating challenges, the experience is often very different and far more dangerous. Without the extensive training of professionals, their bodies are not prepared for such an ordeal. They lack the stomach distensibility and mental fortitude to withstand the pressure, leading to a much higher chance of experiencing severe nausea and vomiting during or immediately after the event. The risks for amateurs are more acute and less managed than those faced by professionals.

Comparison of Competitive Eaters


Aspect	Professional Competitive Eaters	Amateur Challenge Eaters
Preparation	Rigorous stomach expansion training (water loading) and strategic fasting	Typically none; relies on natural stomach capacity and willpower
In-Contest Vomiting	Leads to immediate disqualification ('reversal of fortune')	Immediate disqualification is also standard
Post-Contest Sickness	Significant bloating, extreme sweating, exhaustion, and rapid clearing of the digestive system	High likelihood of extreme nausea, vomiting, severe cramping, and general digestive upset
Purging	Considered dangerous; associated with severe health risks, though anecdotal evidence exists	A high-risk activity; can lead to immediate medical emergencies due to unpreparedness
Long-Term Health	Potential for long-term issues like gastroparesis and loss of satiety	Higher risk of acute dangers like choking, esophageal tears, and long-term digestive damage

The Long-Term Health Risks of Competitive Eating

Both professionals and amateurs face serious health consequences from the practice. Medical studies on the long-term effects are limited, but gastroenterologists suggest that competitive eating is a potentially self-destructive behavior. The repetitive stretching of the stomach can lead to a condition called gastroparesis, a paralysis of the stomach muscles that causes intractable nausea and vomiting. Long-term consequences can also include morbid obesity due to the inability to feel satiated, and in extreme cases, the need for a partial or full gastrectomy.

The Dangers of Post-Contest Purging

For those who do induce vomiting after an event, the health risks are severe. This purging behavior, though different in motivation, carries risks similar to bulimia nervosa. These dangers include:

Electrolyte Imbalance: Loss of vital minerals like potassium and sodium, which can lead to irregular heart rhythms and even cardiac arrest.
Esophageal Damage: The corrosive stomach acid can cause inflammation (esophagitis), Mallory-Weiss tears in the esophagus lining, or even a rupture (Boerhaave syndrome), which is a life-threatening emergency.
Dental Problems: Erosion of tooth enamel from repeated exposure to stomach acid.
Chronic Nausea and Vomiting: The body's natural signaling system is disrupted, leading to persistent digestive issues.

For more information on the dangers of purging, consult the health resources on bulimia.

Conclusion: A High-Stakes Gamble

So, do challenge eaters throw up after? While pros have developed methods to avoid it, and rules prevent it mid-contest, post-event sickness is common and, for some, purging is a dangerous reality. Competitive eating is an extreme sport that takes a massive toll on the body. While the spotlight is on the winners and their astonishing feats, the long-term health consequences and the dangerous habits that can form in the aftermath are a stark reminder of the true cost of these challenges. For amateurs, the risk is even greater, making casual participation a hazardous endeavor without the specialized training and recovery protocols of the top professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

If a competitive eater throws up during a contest, it is known as a "reversal of fortune" and results in their immediate disqualification from the event.

No, not all competitive eaters vomit after a challenge. Professionals like Joey Chestnut often report experiencing intense exhaustion, sweating, and rapid digestion, but not typically nausea or vomiting.

If a competitive eater induces vomiting after a contest, they risk serious health issues including damage to the esophagus, electrolyte imbalances that can affect the heart, and dental problems from acid exposure.

Professional eaters train to stretch their stomachs, often by drinking large quantities of water, and use strategic techniques like bouncing during the contest to help the food move down and settle.

Yes, long-term health consequences can include gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), chronic nausea, loss of the ability to feel full, and an increased risk of morbid obesity.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that some less-conditioned or less scrupulous eaters might use laxatives or other methods to purge after a competition, a practice that is very dangerous and associated with significant health risks.

Recovery for competitive eaters often involves fasting for a period after the event, and many maintain a very strict, healthy diet and exercise regimen outside of competitions to stay in shape.

Amateurs lack the trained stomach capacity and physical conditioning of professionals, making them far more susceptible to severe nausea, cramping, and uncontrolled vomiting after a challenge.