Despite the obesity epidemic in America today, extreme eating contests are more popular than ever. Check out the world-record appetites of these extreme eaters.

1. Takeru "The Tsunami" Kobayashi

In October 2006, ESPN2 televised the third annual Krystal Square Off hamburger eating contest in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The winner was Takeru "The Tsunami" Kobayashi, a 160-pound competitive eating champion from Nagano, Japan, who downed 97 square Krystal burgers in just 8 minutes. Kobayashi may have left with a bit of gas, but he also left with a lot of cash -- first prize was $10,000. One of the top competitive eaters in the world, Kobayashi held the world record for hot dog eating until 2007, and he won the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island six years in a row (2001-2006).

Photo courtesy IFOCE Extreme eaters battle worldwide for top prize money.

2. Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas

At a mere 105 pounds, Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, from Alexandria, Virginia, is the reigning lobster-eating champion, downing 44 Maine lobsters totaling 11.3 pounds of meat in 12 minutes in August 2005, at the second annual World Lobster-Eating Championship in Kennebunkport, Maine. Thomas broke her own lobster record at the event and won $500 and the right to wear "The Claw," the championship belt that goes with the title. Thomas has held more than 40 world titles for competitive eating. She got the nickname "The Black Widow" for outeating male competitors many times her weight.

3. Rich "The Locust" LeFevre

Some like it hot, and Rich "The Locust" LeFevre is no exception. In October 2006, the sixty-something, 132-pound, retired CPA from Henderson, Nevada, set the world record for eating 247 pickled jalapeņo peppers in 8 minutes. He also holds world records for eating 1.5 gallons of chili in 10 minutes; 30 Tex-Mex rolls in 12 minutes in March 2005; and 7.75 pounds of huevos rancheros -- a spicy Mexican breakfast dish -- in 10 minutes in March 2006.

Our list of extreme eaters continues on the next page with the reigning hot dog eating champion.

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