A speed eater who demonstrated her skills by eating 20 chicken nuggets in a minute has been blasted for championing gluttony amid the cost of living crisis after appearing on ITV's This Morning.
Speaking on the breakfast show, Leah Shutkever, from Birmingham, explained that she became Europe's number one professional female eater after word spread that she had broken a food challenge at a local restaurant.
Competitive speed eater revealed that she grew up overweight but overhauled her diet and got fit by learning about nutrition, before attempting to eat 20 chicken nuggets in a minute to beat her record of 19.
Presenters Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond looked impress and congratulated Leah for finishing the food.
However, the segment left viewers unimpressed with many arguing that it's 'inappropriate' because many families are currently struggling for food, while others said children could choke while attempting the challenge for themselves.
Leah Shutkever (pictured) took to ITV's This Morning to reveal how she became Europe's number one professional female eater
Leah explained that her interest in fitness helps to go against the idea of what a competitive eater should look like
Leah, who boasts 180,000 followers on Instagram, counts hot dogs and burgers among the foods she has eaten competitively.
Leah said: 'I work really hard not to fit the idea of what a competitive eater would look like. I started off with a very generic life, studied architecture and I was a commercial interior designer.
'Alongside this I was massively into fitness. I was learning to eat more food so I could put on some muscle mass, so that taught me a different mindset about eating and nutrition, burning and eating calories.
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Share 20 shares'At the time that I was dieting for a bikini competition, my brother was going to a local restaurant attempting the food challenge. 10 weeks consecutively failed it.
'I called him out as sisters do, I don't condone making fun of your siblings however. He said 'look you think you're so good, come and show us how it's done'.
'I went to the restaurant, broke the record in 2013. Slowly word got around about the girl that eats the food.'
Leah said she grew up overweight but scaled back her eating after learning about nutrition and exercise
Leah said her competitive eating technique has been mocked because she isn't known for chewing very well. Pictured: Presenters Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond with Leah
Leah explained that in general she doesn't like to eat a lot of food because she likes to keep fit and it would go against her work at she gym.
She continued, saying: 'In terms of competitive eating, I can eat a lot and have always been able to eat a lot of food.
'I grew up an overweight child and had moments in my younger life where I didn't understand nutrition, so I just ate and ate.
'I didn't have that stop. Then suddenly I learnt about nutrition and thought I need to scale it back and do more exercise.
'This kind of became my life and I already had the knowledge to maintain who I am in this crazy world.'
Leah revealed that among her records is the fastest time to eat a Terry's Chocolate Orange, after completing the challenge in 57 seconds
Leah said her competitive eating technique has been mocked by those who say she doesn't chew well, therefore she isn't eating.
She revealed bread and chocolate are the most difficult foods to speed eat.
Leah impressed Dermot and Alison saying: 'I hold the record for the fastest time to eat a Terry's Chocolate Orange.
'The whole orange, in the box, timer starts before it's out of the box and I managed to do it in 57 seconds.'
Leah went on to try and break her record of eating 19 chicken nuggets in a minute by eating two nuggets at a time.
Leah told Dermot and Alison that eating 20 chicken nuggets in a minute is 'easy' compared to challenges where she has to eat kilos of food
She fasted from 6pm the day before to prepare for the challenge.
'It's the best thing I've seen in my life,' Alison said, while encouraging Leah to beat the clock.
'I'm feeling good, what's for desert,' Leah said after finishing.
'This for me is easy. I feel fine on something like this. I've done challenges that have been kilos of food. Those challenges I enjoy less.'
Many viewers took to Twitter to blast ITV for featuring Leah on the show amid the cost of living crisis.
One person wrote: '#ThisMorning Speed eating is disgusting. And there are people who can barely eat and they're cheering on someone shoving chicken nuggets down her throat. Read the f****** room'
A stream of viewers took to Twitter arguing that the segment is 'insensitive' because many people are struggling to afford food
'Have a word with yourselves #This Morning. People are using food banks and wondering how they'll pay their bills and you have someone ramming enough food in their mouth to feed a family. At least you've saved my energy consumption today, because I've turned the TV off,' another said.
A third added: 'The chicken nugget challenge is disgusting. There are so many families battling inflation who are going without. This is a totally insensitive and inappropriate segment. #ThisMorning'
Others argued the segment could influence children and trigger those who have eating disorders.
One person wrote: 'What a stupid thing to do on This Morning when kids are off school. Having a woman stuffing her face. A possible chocking hazard that children watching may copy.'
Some viewers argued the segment could trigger eating disorder and encourage children to try the challenge
Another commented: 'An unnecessary waste of food that kids will try and copy... no wonder we're the unhealthiest country in Europe'
A third said: 'Wrong optic #ThisMorning at a time when some are making the choice between heating and eating. Not to mention the trigger effect on those with eating disorders. Not entertainment'
A fourth added: 'What a disgusting item on @ThisMorning. Ramming chicken nuggets in her mouth. That does nothing to reduce awareness to eating disorders or obesity'
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