Richman tries to polish off a 13-pound pizza in Atlanta

America is notorious for food served in aggressively large portions and Adam Richman, a competitive eater at heart, sets out to chomp and chomp on some of the most humungous dishes offered across the country. Richman, a New Yorker who used to write about dining establishments across the nation (plus an acting gig on the side having appeared on numerous TV shows such as Law and Order) has quite a hearty appetite. Viewers get to see it in action when he tours across nearly 20 states to restaurants that hosts a monster-food challenge. He encounters such outrageous meals including a 7 ½ pound burger called the Kookamunga from Memphis; a 72-ounce steak at Amarillo; and a giant two-and-a-half-pound Dagwood sandwich in Columbus stuffed with a meaty centre that's as big as Richman's head, plus more. Most of the time, Richman's feast takes hours with some well-needing pacing in between, whilst patrons at the restaurant are cheering and egging him on for support. Viewers will be empathetic when he throws in the towel, or stunned and partially grossed out when he sweats and gorges away successfully, finishing off such unhealthy feats.

From left: preparing a two-and-a-half-pound Dagwood sandwich in Columbus; Richman posing before the 72oz steak eating challenge in Amarillo; and a 13-pound pizza, as wide as a hula hoop, from Pittsburgh

It's not always just about the size and huge nutritional content of the dishes, but how the food is prepared to test any man's appetites and will power. There are intensely spicy dishes too, including one episode set in Los Angeles where the host tries and cries upon eating a ramen dish featuring 10 different chilies. Already a hit show in the US, MAN VS FOOD can be hard to watch. Fortunately Richman is a likable character with a good sense of humour and a chirpy spirit to help paint a more lighthearted tone to his documentation of quite an unhealthy and gluttonous side of America. In eat episode, you can't help but wonder whether Richman will topple over and have a heart attack.

Tune into MAN VS. FOOD, premiering on 28 October at 10pm on the Discovery Travel & Living network. From then on, the season one episodes will air every Wednesday at 10pm.