Takeru Kobayashi Retires from Competitive Eating After 20 Years

The legendary eater steps down due to health issues, including loss of appetite and inability to smell food.

Kobayashi announced his retirement in the Netflix documentary 'Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut.'
Doctors found that his brain reacts to food with nausea, a consequence of years of competitive eating.
Kobayashi's career highlights include six consecutive wins at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest from 2001 to 2006.
He once earned up to $650,000 annually from competitive eating events worldwide.
Kobayashi now aims to live a healthier life by focusing on nutritious foods and smaller portions.