The Insatiable World of Competitive Eating (Recap)

On Halloween, there are jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treating. On New Year's Eve, there's the countdown. And the Fourth of July? Well, there are fireworks and an American tradition we can all call our own: eating contests.

Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest has been held every summer on Coney Island since 1972. Contestants eat as many hot dogs as they can in 10 minutes in the hope of winning the “Mustard Belt” and the grand prize of $10,000.

According to Nathan's, nearly 40,000 spectators flocked to Coney Island this year to watch the competition. Neilson says the annual television audience is nearly a million. Competitive eaters train hard to compete in such events.

What is behind competitive eating? And what is it that fascinates us about following such competitions?

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