I think eating contests can be humorous and enjoyable in moderation, i.e. a pie eating contest. Not for the number of pies in a time frame, but for being first to complete the pie in the shortest time. Eating for quantity of food consumed is flat out gluttony, and repulsive. I'll challange myself on rare occassion to consume a much larger portion then normal of something I really like, but it is on a very rare occassion. Typically that happens on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and maybe a steakhouse or two in the course of a year. Oh, and when Mrs. Big Dog makes her Creamy Curried Chicken, there ain't ever any leftovers unless I am purposely behaving!
Bottom line, I think gluttony can kill. Eating cheese sandwiches over time won't likely kill you, but eating 47 in 10 minutes has a pretty good chance of doing so IMHO. Same goes for hot dogs and whatever else people try to consume mass quantities of with brevity. I know I don't always feel that great after I've pushed myself into eating too much, I can't imagine what that would feel like! I've never pushed that far!