World champion competitive eater and six-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest winner retires over major health concern

Six-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest winner Takeru Kobayashi has retired from the world of competitive eating after a major health scare. 

The Japanese athlete, 46, started his career in 2000 during an appearance on the variety show 'TV Champion,' where he ate 16 bowls of ramen in an hour. 

He has also won the Mustard Yellow Belt at the Coney Island hot dog eating competition from 2001 to 2006. 

But now, after consuming what Kobayashi estimates 10,000 hot dogs over his 20 year long career, he announced his retirement on Netflix's documentary 'Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut'. 

Six-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest winner Takeru Kobayashi has retired from the world of competitive eating after major health scare

'I hear people say they're hungry, and they look very happy after they've eaten,' he said on the show.

'I'm jealous of those people because I no longer feel hunger. Ever since I started this career, I've wondered what damage I've done to my body.' 

Maggie James, Kobayashi's wife also said that he can go days without eating food.

'[He] thinks he might be broken. He doesn't feel hungry or full. He doesn't feel those things at all,' she explained. 

The trailer also shows Kobayashi undergoing an MRI scan and worrying about his lack of appetite, reduced sense of smell and 'fiber consumption'. 

The trailer for Netflix's documentary 'Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut' shows Kobayashi undergoing an MRI scan

Kobayashi defends his pizza eating title at 'Let Them Eat 5' by eating 62 slices during Kempenfest on the waterfront in Ontario, Canada

He later revealed that while his gut microbiome appeared to be alright in tests, his brain scans were cause for concern. 

Doctors concluded that Kobayashi's chronic overeating had impacted his nervous system - causing his brain to think he is always competing or eating highly processed foods. 

'I've decided to retire from competitive eating. It's all I've done for the last 20 years. I am worried about what my next step will bring, but I am also excited about my future. I have mixed feelings,' Kobayashi said in a statement. 

He further said that he still loves hot dogs and plans to 'create a healthier hot dog by combining it with healthy Japanese ingredients' during his retirement.