CTLAWYER,
and the general populace who wanted to know how overeating and wasting food helps those who are starving and need assistance to provide meals.
Because eating contests are “entertaining” to watch – it’s a modern day bloodsport – and thus lucrative. Nathan’s hotdogs makes a lot of money off of their eating contests. Instead of watching gladiators maul each other in the Colosseum, “modern civilized” folk watch people maul their own bodies with food.