Belt of fat theory
In competitive eating, the belt of fat theory posits that, paradoxically, those who have a higher body fat percentage are less well positioned to win contests. This is due to the eponymous "belt of fat" around the midsections of competitors, made up of subcutaneous and visceral fat, which constricts rapid expansion of their stomachs.[1] Originally forwarded in 1998 by Major League Eating (then known as the International Federation of Competitive Eating),[2] the belt of fat theory has gone on to become widely accepted by competitive eaters.[3][4][5]
While not widely studied, the theory has seen some degree of acceptance in scientific publications, including Popular Science[6] and the Canadian Medical Association Journal.[7]
Further reading
- Wolf, Buck (6 July 2004). "Too Fat to Eat Fast?". The Wolf Files. ABC News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2005.
References
- ^ Liao, Sharon (2 July 2011). "Anatomy of a competitive eater". ESPN.com. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ Krachie, Edward (28 October 2003). "Popular Science Confirms BoF Theory". Major League Eating. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ Nerz, Ryan (4 April 2006). Eat This Book: A Year of Gorging and Glory on the Competitive Eating Circuit. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-33968-5.
- ^ Miner, Karen (2 July 2018). "The untold truth of competitive eating". Mashed.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ Kuntzman, Gersh (26 June 2000). "TRUTH EASY TO SWALLOW? FAT CHANCE!". New York Post. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ Green, Ariana (November 2003). "When a 145 pound man can outeat a former defensive tackle nicknamed 'the fridge'". Popular Science. November 2003: 120–121.
- ^ Collier, Roger (5 March 2013). "Competitive consumption: Ten minutes. 20 000 calories. Long-term trouble?". CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal. 185 (4): 291–292. doi:10.1503/cmaj.109-4397. ISSN 0820-3946. PMC 3589306. PMID 23382254.