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brother. “In 2013 he failed a food challenge at a local restaurant 10 times in 10 weeks and so I called him out on it and he challenged me to take it on. I enjoy the competitive aspect of it, it’s challenging and it’s different.” Leah thinks she could eat 30 to 50 hotdogs in 10 minutes,

But science says we could be at the peak of our appetites. James Smoliga, a professor of physiology at High Point University in North Carolina, noticed a pattern emerging in competition results from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Winners ate about one hot dog a minute in the 1970s and numbers gradually increased as cash prizes got bigger and competitions went international.

But recently, the amounts competitors consumed slowed again, suggesting they’re reaching their gastric limits.

Leah, isn’t convinced it is over and believes it’s only just getting started, adding: “It’s not just about the eating but also the atmosphere, the entertainm and the shared love for great food.”

There are hundreds of competit around the world every year, inclu Wigan’s pie eating contest.

There is even a world body that o sees professional eating contests – Major League Eating – and ranks s of the biggest names, including Geo Esper from Massachusetts, who eaten 50 4oz pork sandwiches in minutes, Miki Sudo from Connect