The voracious world of competitive eating (Rebroadcast)

WAMU 88.5 | By Barb Anguiano, Jorgelina Manna-Rea

Published September 2, 2024 at 3:32 AM EDT

A plate full of hot dogs is seen during the 2022 Nathans Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York City. The contest, which has happened every year since 1972, has returned in front of Nathan鈥檚 Famous on Surf Avenue this year.

Halloween has jack-o鈥�-lanterns and trick-or-treating.New Year鈥檚 has the countdown. And the Fourth Of July? Well, that has fireworks and an American tradition we can call all our own:

has been hosted every summer on Coney Island since 1972.Competitors eat as many dogs as they can in 10 minutes, hoping to claim the 鈥淢ustard Belt鈥� and a grand prize $10,000.

According to Nathan鈥檚, nearly 40,000 spectators flocked to Coney Island to watch this year鈥檚 contest. Neilson reports its annual television viewership at nearly a million people.Competitive eaters

So, what鈥檚 the science behind competitive eating? And what鈥檚 our fascination with watching these kinds of competitions?

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The voracious world of competitive eating (Rebroadcast)