Before You Cheer The Hot Dog Eating Champ Of 2018, Be Warned

Every 4th of July, Coney Island hosts the famous Nathan's Famous Hotdog Eating contests. "Competitive eaters," as they're called, race to eat as many hot dogs or other food items as they can in a given time. But according to Business Insider, competitive eating can be a dangerous pastime. Over time, a competitive eater can suffer from a permanently stretched stomach, which can fold in on itself and require partial surgical removal. The pancreas and liver can be damaged. Competitors can choke when the food goes "down the wrong pipe." And their bellies can become so swollen, they look permanently pregnant!