The Digestive System's Extreme Response to Competitive Eating
Competitive eating pushes the human body to its absolute limits, particularly the digestive system. A normal, empty stomach is roughly the size of a human fist, but trained competitive eaters can relax the muscles of their stomach walls to expand it significantly, sometimes two to three times its normal capacity. This unnatural ability is a result of rigorous training, but it comes with a high price, and the question of whether competitive eaters throw up after they compete reveals a deeper look at this dangerous sport.
The Rules and Consequences of Vomiting
For professional competitors, throwing up during or immediately after a contest is a deal-breaker. Major League Eating (MLE), the leading governing body for competitive eating, enforces a strict 'reversal of fortune' rule, which is their term for regurgitation. Any competitor seen vomiting will be immediately disqualified from the contest. This rule provides a strong incentive for eaters to control their bodies, and professional training techniques are designed to prevent this very outcome. However, this doesn't mean the body isn't fighting against the extreme intake of food. Nausea is a very real sensation for eaters, and amateur or untrained participants are far more likely to succumb to it, putting themselves at significant risk.
The Aftermath: What Happens After the Competition Ends?
Once the timer stops, the physical ordeal is far from over. A competitive eater's body is faced with an enormous volume of food, often containing upwards of 20,000 calories in a single sitting. The after-effects are immediate and intense. The sensation of extreme bloating, fatigue, and digestive distress are common. Top eater Joey Chestnut, for example, has spoken about experiencing extreme sweating and exhaustion following a contest. For most, a food coma is inevitable. What follows in the days after is a period of fasting and recovery as the body attempts to process and expel the massive intake of food.
Some common after-effects include:
- Gastroparesis: This condition, also known as stomach paralysis, can develop where the stomach's nerves and muscles are so stretched that they can no longer properly push food into the intestines.
- Chronic Nausea: Due to the damaged gastric emptying, many professional eaters experience persistent feelings of nausea.
- Electrolyte Imbalance: The high volume of liquid consumed during training (known as water loading) or competition can dangerously dilute electrolytes in the blood.
- Diarrhea and Heartburn: The sudden surge of highly processed, fatty, and spicy foods can cause significant gastrointestinal upset.
- Fatigue and Exhaustion: The body is completely overwhelmed by the digestive effort required, leading to physical and mental exhaustion.
The Long-Term Consequences of Overloading the System
While short-term vomiting is actively avoided, the long-term effects of competitive eating pose serious health threats that can lead to chronic nausea and involuntary vomiting in the future. The ability to relax the stomach muscles and override the natural 'fullness' signals permanently alters the body's natural processes. Researchers from a 2007 study on a top speed eater concluded that this behavior is a "potentially self-destructive form of behavior". The long-term risks are significant and include permanent gastric stretching, obesity, and in rare cases, the potential need for a gastrectomy, or stomach removal.
Competitive Eaters vs. Normal Digestion
| Feature | Competitive Eaters | Normal Digestion |
|---|---|---|
| Stomach Capacity | Significantly stretched to 2-3 times normal size. | Expands roughly 15% to 1 liter or 1.5 liters. |
| Satiety Response | Train to override the body's natural fullness signals. | Brain receives signals from the stomach indicating fullness. |
| Gastric Motility | Can suffer from gastroparesis, a delayed emptying of the stomach. | Food moves efficiently from the stomach to the small intestine. |
| Post-Meal Feeling | Severe bloating, exhaustion, nausea, and intense digestive distress. | Feeling of satisfaction and fullness, sometimes minor bloating. |
| Recovery Time | Days of fasting and controlled diet to allow body to recover. | Standard digestion occurs over several hours. |
Training vs. Forced Vomiting
There is a misconception that competitive eaters engage in forced vomiting after an event to relieve themselves, similar to bulimia. This is not accurate for professional eaters, who train specifically to prevent this outcome. Their preparation involves stretching the stomach with water and low-calorie foods, not using purging to manage weight or volume. Professional organizations actively discourage training without medical supervision, recognizing the risks, and have strict rules against regurgitation during contests. Competitive eating, while sometimes compared to an eating disorder by critics, relies on physical training and control, rather than purging.
The Final Word: More than Just a Stomach Ache
The question of whether competitive eaters throw up after they compete is more complicated than a simple yes or no. While professional athletes use trained techniques to avoid vomiting during a contest, the immense strain placed on the body leads to a host of debilitating and sometimes dangerous side effects afterward. The risk of long-term damage to the digestive system, including conditions like gastroparesis and esophageal tearing, is a significant danger that competitive eaters face. This is why safety protocols are in place at sanctioned events, and why the activity is widely considered a health risk by the medical community. Competitive eating is an extreme sport where victory often comes at a physical cost that is not immediately visible to the crowd. For further reading on the physiological impacts, see the National Institutes of Health (NIH) publication on competitive eating and its consequences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, professional competitive eaters do not intentionally throw up after they compete and are disqualified if they do. However, the immense volume of food they consume often causes severe and painful side effects, including nausea, bloating, and other significant gastrointestinal distress. While they train extensively to control their stomach muscles and prevent in-contest regurgitation, the long-term health consequences, such as gastroparesis and esophageal damage, remain a major concern. This high-risk behavior underscores the medical dangers associated with pushing the body far beyond its natural limits for competition.
