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Zermatt Neo

In this Chinese name, the family name is Neo (梁).
Zermatt Neo
梁照远
Neo in 2022
Born (1987-12-24) 24 December 1987 (age 38)
Occupations
  • Competitive eater
  • Content creator
Years active2015–present
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese梁照远
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLiáng Zhàoyuǎn

Zermatt Neo[a] (born 24 December 1987) is a Singaporean competitive eater and content creator.

Previously a personal trainer and dietitian with a degree in nutrition, Neo quit to become a full-time content creator in 2018, citing a lack of time. He records competitive eating and mukbang videos.

Neo works out regularly to maintain fitness. He intermittently fasts before eating challenges and rests for a minimum of three days after, adopting a low-inflammation diet. In eating challenges, he prefers carbohydrates over proteins, opts for cooked food to avoid food poisoning, and prefers Asian and hawker cuisine.

Early life

Zermatt Neo[b] is a Singaporean[3] who was born on 24 December[‡ 1] 1987.[4] His name is derived from the Swiss municipality, Zermatt.[‡ 2] Before becoming a content creator, he was a personal trainer and dietitian.[4] He has a degree in nutrition.[‡ 3][clarification needed] Growing up, he was "a bit greedy" with food, but never thought of becoming a professional eater.[5]

Neo found competitive eating an enjoyable weekend activity where he could eat food free-of-charge.[3] He did hiking and kayaking, but only gained an interest in exercise after national service, after feeling that he "needed a change", and saying that it was addictive.[6] He went to the gym about six days a week.[6]

Career

After a dare in 2013 to do a wagyu hamburger-eating challenge from a gym friend and realising that he excelled at it, Neo started competitive eating.[3] Neo is described as "Singapore's strongest competitive eater", according to Karen Tee of Channel NewsAsia.[3]

In 2015, Neo began uploading videos on an ad hoc schedule,[3] starting with a pizza-eating contest.[‡ 4]: 0:00  He first gained fame in 2016,[3] after eating close to 4 kg of chicken rice at a coffee shop in Bukit Batok in slightly over 29 minutes in a viral video.[3][7] According to Neo, the video went viral because it was relatable and interesting how a competitive eater could remain in shape. In 2018, he started competitive eating and content creation full-time,[3] quitting being a personal trainer and dietitian, due to a lack of time.[6] He quoted one of the reasons being receiving offers to eat at restaurants while getting paid. It took several years to achieve financial stability as a content creator.[3] He does food challenges and mukbang videos.[‡ 4]: 0:41  He hopes to use cuisine to connect people internationally.[3] As of 2023, he works in a team of around six with one intern, and a producer.[‡ 4]: 2:02  As of 2023, Neo co-hosts Adventure Of The Day with Annette Lee, a food and travel show challenging the common Singaporean saying that "[there is] nothing to do in [the] country".[8]

To keep fit, Neo works out six to seven days a week,[4] such as doing cardio workouts[9] and hiking.[6] In the gym, he spends about 1.5 hours, with an hour dedicated to cardio.[5] He also gets a health check-up every six months, of which the doctor says that he is "healthier than 90 per cent of Singaporeans."[5] Before a competition,[9] he practices intermittent fasting lasting up to and around 24 hours,[4][3] banning water and food,[9] eating blueberries, nuts, vegetables, eggs and tofu, accumulating a large caloric deficit.[3]

Neo prepares for a competition with "speed, capacity and technique". He also believes that mental fortitude is equally as important.[9] He also practices by simulating a contest to determine the best strategy to eat.[6] According to Neo, his ambidexterity is a useful skill as it allows him to save crucial seconds alternating between food and other aids like water.[3] He is able to eat about 8 to 9 kg of rice and noodles, but only about 6 to 7 kg of meat, finding protein-heavy food or processed food such as pizza more challenging to eat,[4] preferring carbohydrates over proteins.[9] In a challenge, Neo usually starts with meat as they are denser, and finds it easier to squeeze in carbohydrates even when he is struggling.[9] He also prefers Asian and hawker cuisine during competitions.[9] Neo opts for cooked food to minimise chances of food poisoning.[3]

After an eating challenge, Neo does not suffer from acid reflux[4] or vomiting,[3] but only cramps.[4] He does not induce vomiting on purpose.[5] He allocates time for recovery,[9] with a minimum of three days after a video shoot,[‡ 4]: 5:15  and up to four days,[5] going on a low-inflammation diet or eating vegan[9] or vegetarian food,[6] drinking ample amounts of water,[9] and getting ample sleep.[5] He also keeps track of his caloric intake and weighs himself every day to keep fit.[6] He credits his experience as a dietitian and a personal trainer with helping him handle the after-effects.[5]

He has done eating challenges in various countries, such as char siu with rice in Hong Kong, omurice in Japan,[5] gyūdon in the Philippines,[6] nasi kandar in Malaysia,[5] and an eating challenge titled 来吃来吃大胃王[c] in China.[6] He has also done eating challenges in Singapore, such as kaya toast in Singapore to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Singapore,[5] and egg tarts at Joy Luck Teahouse in ION Orchard with another competitive eater, Raina Huang.[10] He considers eating street food his niche for his YouTube channel and offers publicity to lesser known hawkers who may be struggling.[3]

In 2017, Neo won the Food League Singapore championship, eating 92 chicken wings in 8 minutes.[11] As of 2023,[9] Neo considered eating 21 bowls[5] of Blanco Court beef noodle at Singapore Comic Con[9] in 15 minutes[5] his most impressive achievement.[9] It was a world record, and as of 2024, its video received over 1.5 million views.[5] As of 2023, he considered eating 400 chicken wings[‡ 5] at Jeffo's his hardest challenge.[9] Neo says that competitive eating taught him discipline, in activities such as eating well and working out.[6] Noticing that the best competitive eaters are in their 40s and 50s, he said in 2023 that he may need to pivot in the long-term and do more travel videos sampling different international cuisines.[3]

Neo jokingly recommended against competitive eating, saying that "it's not fun".[9] He considers eating 2 kg of food impressive for beginners.[9] He ate too much burger "many years ago" from 2025, causing his stomach to expand and crush his pancreas.[4] As a result, he suffered pancreatitis, spending three days in an emergency room and two weeks to recover.[4] He was also hospitalised once[when?] for food poisoning due to not being accustomed to eating too many oysters.[3]

Personal life

Neo is ambidextrous.[3] He is single.[6]

His competitive eating career affects his social life due to his diet, making it harder to eat with friends.[3] His parents are supportive of his career, but worry that too much food may affect his health.[5] As such, his mother buys him supplements.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ Chinese: 梁照远; pinyin: Liáng Zhàoyuǎn
  2. ^ simplified Chinese: 梁照远; traditional Chinese: 梁照遠; pinyin: Liáng Zhào Yuǎn[1][2]
  3. ^ pinyin: lái chī lái chī dà wèi wáng

References

Secondary sources

  1. ^ 林, 政平 (12 December 2023). "專訪／新加坡大胃王Zermatt Neo「爆吃400顆生蠔急送醫」日吃一餐調節身體機能". Yahoo News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  2. ^ 曾, 薪机 (30 December 2023). "本地大胃王花40分钟吃12公斤肉脞面". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Tee, Karen (3 December 2023). "Appetite for success: How Zermatt Neo became a YouTube star through competitive eating". CNA Lifestyle. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Chan, Ilsa (19 December 2025). "Competitive eater Zermatt Neo once ended up in hospital after a burger challenge". CNA Lifestyle. Archived from the original on 20 May 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Knott, Kylie (11 September 2024). "From ramen to chicken rice, Singaporean competitive eater Zermatt Neo holds his own". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Tay, Cheryl (2 August 2021). "Singapore #Fitspo of the Week: Zermatt Neo". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  7. ^ Lee, Min Kok (1 February 2016). "Singaporean devours 4kg of chicken rice in under 30 minutes for eating competition". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  8. ^ Batchelor, Renée (17 August 2023). "BAZAAR Power List 2023: Annette Lee". Harper's Bazaar Singapore. Archived from the original on 16 June 2026. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "What do you do for a living? Featuring Zermatt Neo, Competitive Food Eater". Time Out Singapore. 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  10. ^ Wee, Timothy (15 March 2023). "Double threat: Competitive eaters Zermatt Neo and Raina Huang down 100 egg tarts in 25 minutes". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 10 September 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  11. ^ Zaccheus, Melody (7 January 2017). "Personal trainer finishes 92 chicken wings in 8 minutes, wins Singapore's first Food League title". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

Primary sources

In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):

  1. ^ Neo, Zermatt (11 December 2020). MASSIVE 5KG CHRISTMAS PARTY FEAST EATEN SOLO! (Video). Event occurs at 0:17. Archived from the original on 23 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026 – via YouTube. Because for those who may or may not know, my birthday falls on Christmas Eve.
  2. ^ Neo, Zermatt (17 December 2025). "I'm Zermatt Neo - a Singapore-based competitive eater and content creator with a 10M+ following. Here for an AMA on r/SingaporeEats! A gym dare sparked my first national win. I'm trained in nutrition and fitness. Ask me anything about food challenges, hawker eats, and staying fit". Reddit. Archived from the original on 22 June 2026. Retrieved 23 June 2026. Long story short, my aunt didnt fancy my Chinese name - v hard to remember hahaha. She came back from Switzerland and really loved the town Zermatt so hence the name! It's in my IC for the record - recently added it haha
  3. ^ Neo, Zermatt (17 December 2025). "I'm Zermatt Neo - a Singapore-based competitive eater and content creator with a 10M+ following. Here for an AMA on r/SingaporeEats! A gym dare sparked my first national win. I'm trained in nutrition and fitness. Ask me anything about food challenges, hawker eats, and staying fit". Reddit. Archived from the original on 19 December 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2026. I hold a degree in Nutrition and I'm a certified personal trainer, and I use this background to approach food challenges thoughtfully while maintaining my fitness.
  4. ^ a b c d Koo, Joyee; Jialin, Lindsay (3 December 2023). How do competitive eaters stay in shape? Zermatt Neo shares his regular diet and exercise routine (Video). Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 23 June 2026. Retrieved 23 June 2026 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Neo, Zermatt (2 April 2023). INSANE 400 CHICKEN WINGS EATING CHALLENGE! | WE FOUND THE BEST CHICKEN WINGS IN SINGAPORE! (Video). Archived from the original on 22 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026 – via YouTube. In this episode, we head back in time to the 90s and visit Jeffo's to try their legendary Cuscaden chicken wings which is previously over at Ming's Arcade.

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