In the age of the obesity epidemic, do eating contests send the wrong message?

In the age of the obesity epidemic, do eating contests send the wrong message?

Ian "The Invader" Hickman (Competitive Eater) gives expert video advice on: Isn't competitive eating disgusting?; Do people vomit at competitive eating contests?; What is the point of a competitive eating contest? and more...

I don't think eating contests send the wrong message. I believe that there is a concern with the whole weight epidemic and things like that. But I don't feel that having some athletes get on stage and eat their hearts out and try to sell at something that we deem as sport is sending the wrong message. You have to train and you have to train smart for this contest and I think people quickly realize that you can't go to McDonald's and eat 20 cheeseburgers everyday to get better in a hamburger contest and keep your weight down. It is common sense you can't do that.