How do professional eaters eat so much and not get fat?

Author: Nico Nicolas  |  Last update: Monday, September 8, 2025

Many competitive eaters fast before and after an event. In fact, being thin allows you to eat more during a contest, according to the “belt of fat” theory, which posits that belly fat restricts the stomach's ability to expand. The part of competitive eating that may be most risky isn't the competition.

How do professional eaters not gain weight?

Training and Conditioning: Competitive eaters train their bodies to expand their stomach capacity and manage food intake. This involves gradually increasing the amount of food they consume over time, allowing their stomachs to stretch and accommodate larger volumes without gaining excess weight.

How do some people eat so much but never get fat?

Some people naturally have a faster metabolism, allowing them to eat more and remain thin. Some people have overactive thyroids that require them to eat a lot or they'll get sickly thin. And yet others exercise a lot and must eat a lot in order to keep up with their caloric output.

How do competitive eaters eat so much without getting full?

According to experts, the key is to learn to relax the esophagus so it can expand, which would allow more food to go down. It starts with the technique: the "chipmunking" of the cheeks to allow more room for food and the constant sipping of water.

Do competitive eaters throw up after?

Discomfort following an event is common with nausea, heartburn, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea. People may also use laxatives or force themselves to vomit following the event, with associated risks.

This Is How the Body Reacts to Competitive Eating

Who is the #1 competitive eater?

Joey Chestnut. Joseph Christian Chestnut (born November 25, 1983) is an American competitive eater. As of 2024, he is ranked first in the world by Major League Eating.

Why do professional eaters drink diet coke?

He often gets Diet Coke or a root beer with his meals, as he claims the carbonation of the soft drink helps getting some of the trapped air out of the stomach, and the sweetness helps break up the monotony of the savory flavor.

How do mukbangers eat so much?

Excessive amounts of food can be consumed and wasted during mukbang. To prevent weight gain or other health risks as a result of overeating, some mukbangers chew food and then spit it out, but edit their videos to remove the spitting, to create the false impression that a large volume of food has been consumed.

How to stretch your stomach for competitive eating?

Competitive eaters do this by drinking progressively larger amounts of water over short periods of time. One scientific medical journal described the process as turning the stomach into "an enormous flaccid sac capable of accommodating huge amounts of food."

Why am I so skinny but I eat a lot?

You may become underweight for many different reasons. You may be born naturally small and your low BMI can be due to your genes. You may have a very high metabolism and find it hard to put on weight, even if you eat foods that have a lot of calories.

Do chubby kids thin out?

In most kids, after a chubby start to life, BMI falls during preschool years, bottoming out around age 5 to 6 years. From that point on, it's usual for BMI to climb steeply, leveling out in the late-teen years to early adulthood.

How to slow fast metabolism?

If you have ever wondered, "how do I slow down metabolism?" Here are 7 strategies to help.
  1. Eat Calorie Rich Foods, Intentionally. ...
  2. Track Your Caloric Intake. ...
  3. Boost Your Appetite. ...
  4. Add Extra Calories To Your Meals. ...
  5. Add Protein Supplements to Your Diet. ...
  6. Include Specific Exercises in Your Daily Routine. ...
  7. Get Support.

How do female competitive eaters stay skinny?

Instead, a surprisingly simple routine of big, nutrient-dense salads, lots of walking, and lifting weights helps her stay healthy, balanced, and happy even after a serious feast.

How do some people eat so much but never gain weight?

Some people have a naturally low BMI due to physical characteristics that run in their family. A high metabolism. If a person has a high metabolism, they may not gain much weight even when eating high-energy foods. Frequent physical activity.

What is the belt of fat theory?

Originally forwarded in 1998 by Major League Eating (then known as the International Federation of Competitive Eating), the belt of fat theory has gone on to become widely accepted by competitive eaters. People with a "belt of fat" around their midsections may suffer losses in competitive eating contests due to it.

Why mukbang is unhealthy?

For viewers, watching mukbang videos can trigger unhealthy eating patterns or exacerbate existing issues such as binge eating disorders. Additionally, the glorification of excessive consumption can perpetuate negative body image issues and distorted perceptions of normal eating habits.

How do food influencers stay skinny?

Maintaining a healthy weight as a food blogger is a long-term commitment. It's about developing sustainable habits over time, not relying on extreme diets or fads. That means making healthier food choices regularly, staying active, and not getting caught up in the illusion of perfection you may see on social media.

How do competitive eaters eat so much?

They are able to eat so much because they prepare. They stretch their stomachs, they practice techniques for speed, etc. After a competition, it's not unlike how you feel after Thanksgiving. Full, sluggish, tired, maybe even a little nauseous.

How do competitive eaters not get heartburn?

Competitive eaters have to learn how to relax their esophagus so that it expands, allowing more food to go down. From there, the hot dog travels to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), an involuntary bundle of muscles at the low end of the esophagus that prevents acid from getting into the stomach.

Why do competitive eaters dip food in water?

As if eating dozens of logs of processed meat wasn't enough, contestants take to dunking their hot dog buns in water during the competition. From there, it's just science. The water soaks into the dry bread, making it easier to shove down your throat in chunks.

Why do rich people like Diet Coke so much?

Successful people are probably more concerned about nutrition and health than average. As a result, diet soft drinks, which reflect an interest in reducing sugar intake, over index among successful people.

How to stretch your stomach to eat more?

Eating large meals frequently

If you consistently consume oversized portions, you can easily stretch your stomach over time. Eating beyond your body's hunger cues can expand your stomach's capacity and make it crave more substantial amounts to help you feel satisfied.

Do competitive eaters get paid?

A Professional Eater in your area makes on average $19 per hour, or $0.57 (30.129%) more than the national average hourly salary of $18.85. ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for Professional Eater salaries.

Why don't competitive eaters gain weight?

Their weights spike during contests but, afterward, they eat less than normal to recover their health. (Another incentive for fasting beforehand or after: belly fat can block the stomach's expansion, some competitive eaters have found.) Wehry says he drops about 20 pounds in just a few days after contests.

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