Understanding the Causes of Man Boobs
Gynecomastia is the medical term used to call what are commonly called man boobs. It is a condition that allows men to develop large breast, just like women do. Studies say that around 50% of men suffered man boobs at some age in their life. Normally gynecomastia lasts weeks or months, but in some cases it could last for years.
One of the most common periods when man boobs grow is during puberty, since in this period boys go through severe hormone imbalance; testosterone (male hormone responsible for deep voice, muscle mass, facial hair etc.) and estrogen (female hormone responsible for feminine characteristics such as breast growth ) change their normal levels and as a result a higher percentage of estrogen in boys causes man boobs. The same happens to older people, because the level of testosterone decreases with age.
Gynecomastia may also be caused by chest fat. In this case the correct term is pseudogynecomastia and it’s due to lack of training or exercise. Fat gathers in the breast area just as it would do in other areas like chin, hips or buttocks.
Sometimes individuals suddenly begin to gather fat in the chest and find difficult to eliminate it. This may be a symptom of a change in hormone balance, specifically an increase in the production of estrogen or a decrease of testosterone, and may be due to intake of drugs such as Finasteride or Minoxidil or soft drugs such as marijuana. It is hard to reduce man boobs caused by these factors because the change in hormones causes a change in metabolism, so diet and exercise may be not effective anymore.
If hormone issues and chest fat are both present at the same time and are the causes of man boobs, we have what is known as mixed gynecomastia, a combination of gland problems and excess fat. It is the most common form of man boobs.
Source: Man Boobs Central