TV’s Man vs. Food: Are There Any Winners?

By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom 

Food is part of life. For better or worse, so is television. So it’s natural that shows and channels focused on food are wildly successful across the country. And the content is all over the culinary map. One topic I’d like to tackle is the show with the unlikely title of “Man vs. Food.”

For those of you unfamiliar with this show, it pits a mere human against giant portions of foods (from restaurants around the country) to see if man can meet the demands of speed and quantity eating. The prize is usually a photo on the “wall of victory.” The goal: to out-eat other “challengers” before him. To add to the festivities, restaurant regulars are cheering in the background.

This show, by the way, is wildly entertaining. If you didn’t consider all of the awful hidden health messages associated with consuming huge amounts of high-calorie foods within a short period, this would be harmless entertainment. This idea of “competitive eating” is becoming contagious, and shows like this one fuel the concept that this is great fun and you can try this yourself.

When it comes to food, more is not better, even when it’s billed as entertainment. My advice on competitive eating? Don’t try this at home! And skip the “all you can eat” buffets while you’re at it.