Man Rushed To Er After Losing Key Bodily Function From ‘eating A Burger Too Fast’

A competitive eater from Singapore ended up in the emergency room after tackling a massive seven-pound burger—only to find that his stomach couldn’t handle the challenge.

The 30-year-old, who was otherwise healthy, managed to devour the enormous meal in just half an hour. But while he may have conquered the burger, it definitely fought back.

For some perspective, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the average fast-food burger in the U.S. weighs about 0.75 pounds. That means this man ate the equivalent of more than nine standard burgers in one sitting.

Shortly after, he began experiencing intense abdominal pain and had to seek emergency medical attention.

The sheer amount of food he had consumed caused his stomach to expand so much that it put pressure on his pancreas and intestines. This led to acute pancreatitis and even acute kidney injury.

By the time he arrived at the hospital, doctors noted that he had already vomited up undigested food. A physical examination revealed that his stomach was severely bloated and firm, indicating significant internal distress.

The Singaporean's stomach was so swollen it was at risk of bursting Getty stock

Despite his severe symptoms, an initial chest X-ray showed that there was no sign of pneumoperitoneum, a condition where air leaks into the abdominal cavity due to a perforated organ.

His digestive system had essentially shut down. The massive meal had completely blocked his bowels, making it impossible for him to pass gas or have a bowel movement—both critical bodily functions.

Because of this, doctors admitted him for further treatment, and he remained in the hospital for five days before his condition finally improved enough for him to be discharged.

The case was documented in a report published by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) in Gastroenterology.

Doctors performed a computed tomography (CT) scan on the man’s abdomen and pelvis, which provided a clearer picture of the severity of his condition.

The scan revealed that his stomach and part of his small intestine were severely distended with undigested food. It also showed a sudden narrowing in a different section of his intestine, while his pancreas appeared compressed and his intestines were pushed downward.

Scans of the man's distended stomach Gastroenterology aga

To relieve the pressure and ease his symptoms, doctors performed multiple gastric lavages—commonly known as stomach pumping—by inserting a tube through his nose to remove small amounts of liquid.

The goal was to reduce the distention in his stomach and allow his digestive system to regain function. However, even after repeated attempts, his condition did not immediately improve.

"Plans for an open gastrostomy to evacuate the undigested food particles were abandoned when the patient started to pass flatus [gas] and there was resolution of metabolic acidosis and elevated white counts," the report stated.

Fortunately, after several days, his body finally began recovering. "Eventually, the patient managed to move his bowels and was discharged well 5 days later."