How many calories a day does a sumo wrestler eat?

January 13, 2026 •

3 min read

Sumo wrestlers, known as rikishi, consume between 5,000 and 10,000 calories daily to maintain their massive physiques for competition. Their diet is a cornerstone of their training, focusing on calorie-dense, nutritious meals to support their rigorous physical demands and strategic weight gain.

Quick Summary

Sumo wrestlers consume up to 10,000 calories a day through a controlled diet, a two-meal-per-day schedule, and intense training sessions. The bulk of their intake comes from a protein-rich stew called chankonabe, accompanied by large amounts of rice and beer, with strategic naps to promote weight gain.

Key Points

High Calorie Range: Sumo wrestlers eat between 5,000 and 10,000 calories daily to support their massive size and training needs.
Two Meals Daily: Their diet consists of two large meals per day, skipping breakfast to slow their metabolism and promote fat storage.
Chankonabe is Staple: The primary dish is chankonabe, a high-protein, high-calorie stew packed with meat, fish, and vegetables.
Accompanied by Carbs and Beer: Meals are supplemented with large amounts of rice, noodles, and beer to maximize caloric intake.
Strategic Napping: Taking a long nap after their large midday meal is a deliberate tactic to help gain weight efficiently.
Intense Training: Daily, intense physical training burns significant calories, helping manage the health impacts of their extreme diet while active.
Post-Retirement Risks: After retiring, wrestlers must drastically reduce their calorie intake and weight to avoid severe health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

The Sumo Wrestler's Daily Routine

For a sumo wrestler, or rikishi, their day is a disciplined cycle of training, eating, and sleeping, all meticulously designed to achieve and maintain immense size and strength. The day begins early, often before 5 a.m., with a rigorous morning training session lasting several hours, all performed on an empty stomach. This practice is a crucial part of their weight-gain strategy, as it slows their metabolism and makes the subsequent, massive meals more effective for storing fat. After training, they eat their first and largest meal of the day, followed by a long nap to further encourage calorie storage. This cycle is repeated in the evening for a second large meal and sleep.

The Cornerstone of the Sumo Diet: Chankonabe

The main component of a sumo wrestler's diet is chankonabe, a hearty, protein-rich stew served in immense quantities. This dish is not just food; it is a central part of stable (heya) life, prepared by junior wrestlers and shared communally. The ingredients vary, but it is always packed with protein and vegetables to provide maximum nutrition and calories.

Protein Sources: The stew often includes a mix of chicken, pork, fish, beef, and tofu.
Vegetables: Napa cabbage, daikon radish, carrots, mushrooms, and other seasonal vegetables are added.
Broth: A base of chicken or dashi broth is used, flavored with soy sauce, miso, or sake.
Sides: Chankonabe is always accompanied by massive quantities of rice and often beer, which adds a significant number of empty calories.

During tournaments, tradition dictates that wrestlers eat chicken-only chankonabe, as chickens stand on two legs, symbolizing victory by staying upright in the ring.

Comparing a Sumo's Diet to the Average Person

To understand the magnitude of a sumo wrestler's caloric intake, it is helpful to compare it to a typical individual's diet. The average, moderately active adult male consumes around 2,500 calories per day. A sumo's intake is 2 to 4 times that amount. However, the quality of calories and the timing of consumption are vastly different.


Feature	Sumo Wrestler	Average Adult
Daily Calorie Intake	5,000 to 10,000+	~2,500
Number of Meals	Two very large meals	Three meals, plus snacks
Primary Meal	Chankonabe stew, rice, and beer	Variety of meals, smaller portions
Meal Timing	Lunch and late dinner, no breakfast	Spread throughout the day
Physical Activity	Intense, multi-hour training daily	Variable, often less intense
Lifestyle	Rigorous, structured routine	Standard daily routine
Nap After Eating	Yes, deliberately to gain weight	Not typically part of the routine

The Health Paradox: Fitness and Risk

Despite their high-calorie, weight-gaining lifestyle, active sumo wrestlers often have better cardiovascular health than expected for their size, largely due to their intense, daily exercise regimen. This training prevents the buildup of dangerous visceral fat, storing fat instead just beneath the skin. However, this health advantage disappears upon retirement. Former wrestlers who do not drastically alter their diets and activity levels face significant health risks, including a shortened life expectancy and increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Factors Influencing Calorie Consumption

The total calories a rikishi consumes can vary based on several factors, including their rank and specific training goals within the stable. A lower-ranked wrestler may get leftovers and be smaller, while a top-ranked wrestler, or yokozuna, might have access to higher-quality cuts of meat, potentially increasing their intake. Some individuals are also naturally predisposed to gain weight more easily than others. The pressure to become larger and stronger is a constant factor in their diet, sometimes leading to overeating as a stress-coping mechanism.

For a deeper dive into the health implications of this lifestyle, a report by the National Institutes of Health explores the specific metabolic challenges faced by sumo wrestlers. The demanding and highly structured nature of their daily life is what distinguishes their high-calorie diet from an unhealthy lifestyle, at least while they are active in the sport.

Conclusion: Beyond the Numbers

In conclusion, the answer to how many calories a day does a sumo wrestler eat is a range, typically between 5,000 and 10,000, but the full picture is more complex. It's not simply a matter of high-calorie intake but a combination of timed eating, intense exercise, and a culturally specific diet centered on chankonabe. This regimen is specifically designed for strategic weight gain while maintaining strength and athleticism for the ring. Upon retirement, the abrupt change in lifestyle highlights the delicate balance between their demanding sport and the long-term health consequences of such an extreme diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sumo wrestlers typically consume between 5,000 and 10,000 calories per day, depending on their rank and weight-gain goals.

They skip breakfast and train on an empty stomach to slow their metabolism, which helps their bodies store fat more efficiently when they eventually eat their first large meal.

Chankonabe is a calorie-rich, protein-packed stew that is the main staple of a sumo wrestler's diet. It is made with meat, fish, vegetables, and a flavorful broth.

While high in calories, their diet is typically very nutritious and not junk food. The large portion sizes, consumption timing, and inclusion of beer are what contribute to weight gain.

Their intense daily exercise regimen prevents the buildup of dangerous visceral fat around organs, storing it subcutaneously instead. This keeps key health indicators like cholesterol and blood pressure in a normal range while they are active.

Upon retirement, a sumo wrestler's intense training stops. They must cut their calories drastically to avoid severe health issues like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which become a major risk without the daily exercise.

No, the sumo diet is an extreme regimen for professional athletes. For average individuals, it poses significant health risks due to the massive caloric intake, minimal meal frequency, and high volume of food.