Takeru Kobayashi, the six-time winner of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, has decided to step away from competitive eating due to health worries

Takeru Kobayashi, the six-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champion, announced his retirement at age 46 due to health concerns. In a recent Netflix documentary, “Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut,” he expressed a lack of hunger and an inability to feel full, leading him to worry about the impact of his competitive eating career on his body. Despite feeling anxious about stepping away from the sport he’s dedicated two decades to, Kobayashi is also looking forward to his future with mixed feelings.