Have you ever been so hungry you looked at a package of hotdogs and thought about eating the whole thing?  Most people witnessing such a feat may be impressed (and possibly disgusted), but people involved in the world of competitive eating would hardly bat an eye at one measly package of hotdogs. 

In recent years, competitive eating has become so popular that the world championship, Nathan’s Hotdog Eating Contest, is now featured on ESPN.  As little as seven years ago, the world champion of competitive eating could down twenty-five hotdogs and buns in the regulation time of 12 minutes.

However, that was before a 110-pound Japanese man named Takeru Kobayahsi exploded onto the scene, downing 50 hotdogs in 12 minutes and setting a new world record.  How can one man, especially one so small, eat so much?  Most people would expect champion eaters to be obese but having fat over the abdomen actually prevents the stomach from stretching to full capacity, the key to competitive eating. 

Kobayashi was able to double the old world record with new techniques and signature moves like the Kobayashi Shake, which causes food to compact in his stomach, as well as the Solomon technique, which is eating the hotdog first, then dipping the bun in water or soda. 

Since taking the world championship in 2001, Kobayashi has broken his own record (despite some dispute about reversals - aka. vomiting) and was undefeated by a human until the 2007 championship (he was defeated by a bear on one occasion). 

In 2007, the title was taken by American college student, Joey Chestnut, who downed 66 hotdogs in 12 minutes.  Chestnut led by as many as seven hotdogs at one point, but some say his defeat of Kobayahsi was due to cramming three hotdogs and buns in his mouth at the last second to beat Kobayashi’s 63 hotdogs. 

Because of Chestnut’s victory, the 2008 competition will be held in the United States on July 4th, where Kobayashi will have an opportunity to take the title back to Japan. 

For ladies who think they are destined for competitive eating stardom, the women’s record for hotdog eating is 39.  

If you are thinking about getting involved in competitive eating, there are numerous leagues across the United States and Japan where you can develop your skills with a variety of different foods, as well as differing duration of events.

So if you are so hungry you could eat a ridiculous number of hotdogs, don’t worry; you’re not the only one.