Some Say Eating Contests in Bad Taste

Tim Janus, of New York, left, known as "Eater X," and Sonya Thomas, of Alexandria, Va., known as "The Black Widow," participate in the world-burrito eating championship,in this Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 file photo, outside the Costa Vida restaurant in South Portland, Maine. Professional eaters will take center stage Thursday, Nov. 22, 2007 in a nationally televised competition, gobbling up 20 pound turkeys in eight minutes. (AP Photo/Joel Page) (Joel Page - AP)

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Planning to gorge yourself this Thanksgiving? Don't flatter yourself, amateur.

As Americans stuff themselves with turkey on Thursday, professional eaters will take center stage in a nationally televised competition, gobbling 20-pound birds in eight minutes.

While some shudder at the sight of contestants racing to devour food at a time when a third of Americans are obese, competitors just shrug.

"Doing it once in a while isn't bad for you, when you do it responsibly," champion eater Tim Janus said.

Others have had their fill of such events.

This fall, the University of Iowa canceled its annual corn-eating contest, held the week of the Iowa-Iowa State football game. Many saw the contest as a fun nod to the state's hallmark crop, but Phillip Jones, Iowa's vice president of student services, viewed it as an act of gluttony.

"It was something I thought was reasonable based on the data and stories I've seen about obesity and the proportion of people who are overweight," Jones said. "I don't know ... if it is dangerous, but it was a symbolic gesture to get people to address changes in our lifestyle."

Last year, organizers of the World Pie Eating Championship in Wigan, England, gave in to pressure from health advocates and cut back on contestants' consumption.

Competitors converged on the northwestern English town for 15 years to see who could eat the most meat pies in three minutes. But organizers changed the rules in 2006, presenting the award to the person who could eat a single meat pie in the fastest time. They also added a vegetarian category.

In the U.S., the International Federation of Competitive Eating organizes about 80 eating contests a year, including The Turkey Bowl, scheduled to air Thursday on cable's Spike TV.

The group's chairman, George Shea, said competitive eaters are athletes who train for their sport, working to improve jaw strength and increasing their stomach capacity.

"This is an entertainment product that has its roots in fairs and festivals and not a celebration of excess," Shea said. "It's a comedic thing _ a combination of Coney Island hucksterism and sports commentary."