How to get rid of man boobs: Exercise, diet, and treatment

Enlarged breast tissue in males is known as gynecomastia. Treating any underlying health conditions, exercising, and making dietary changes may help reduce breast tissue.

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In some males, breast tissue enlarges due to hormonal changes, medication use, or underlying health conditions.

The medical term for this condition is gynecomastia. Some people use the phrases “man boobs” or “moobs,” which may feel like an uncomfortable or bothersome term. This may cause people to feel embarrassed to seek a doctor’s advice about enlarged breast tissue.

Treatment options for this condition center around finding and addressing the cause. However, there is no single cause of gynecomastia.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Learn more.

Enlarged breast tissue in males is a common concern, with research suggesting up to

Testosterone in the male body usually prevents the breast tissue from expanding. Some males develop enlarged breasts

Gynecomastia

• infants
• teenagers
• people over the age of 60 years

There are

• hormone changes, such as an increase in estrogen
• certain types of tumors that affect hormone levels
• family history
• genetics
• obesity
• an overactive thyroid gland
• specific medications
• sex hormone deficiency
• Kallmann syndrome and other diseases that lower testosterone
• liver or kidney disease
• spinal cord disorders
• HIV
• substance misuse
• male breast cancer

Consulting a doctor about enlarged male breast tissue is the first step to identifying the underlying cause.

Once a doctor determines the cause of enlarged breast tissue, they can prescribe or adjust medications to help shrink it. They can also recommend lifestyle and dietary changes that may help.

When excess fat stores cause male breast expansion, focusing on building the chest muscles may help.

Cardiovascular exercise

In addition, developing the muscles can boost overall energy metabolism, which may also help maintain a moderate weight.

Some cardiovascular workouts and activities for weight loss include:

According to the

Chest exercises to build muscle may include:

To add muscle, it should feel challenging, so the body works to build up its strength in response.

Although a person may not lose weight in a specific place on the body, targeted chest exercises can help them gain more muscle tone in the chest, which may help reduce the appearance of breast tissue.

If a person has a gym membership, they can use several machines that target the chest muscles. However, trainers may provide guidance about using each machine or incorporating other chest exercises for maximum benefit while reducing the risk of injury.

Before starting a new exercise routine, it is best to consult a doctor to determine what is safe and appropriate for an individual’s needs and abilities.

In general, the best dietary changes to make are those that are small and sustainable. Significantly overhauling the diet at once is often challenging for people to maintain and could result in regaining lost weight.

The

Before making changes to the diet, it can be helpful to keep a food journal. This can give a person insight into what they can cut out and what nutrients are lacking.

The

• eating whole, raw fruits and vegetables whenever possible
• using no or low fat cooking techniques, such as steaming, boiling, or baking
• choosing whole fruit over fruit drinks and juices
• substituting less nutritious snacks with fruits or vegetables

If other options do not help, a person may consider surgery to remove excess breast tissue. One of the ways to address this is through male breast reduction surgery.

This involves removing excess glandular tissue and fat, typically through liposuction, direct excision, or a combination of both.

The procedure aims to create a more contoured chest. In addition to improving the chest’s appearance, gynecomastia surgery can boost self-esteem and body confidence.

For individuals with severe glandular tissue enlargement, the surgery can provide lasting results that are less likely to recur.

All males have some breast tissue. However, some medical conditions, medications, and hormonal changes can cause male breasts to grow larger than usual.

In other cases, excess weight in the area may make the breast tissue look as though it has grown. People put on weight in different places, while others first put it in their breast area.

If enlarged male breasts do not reduce with dietary changes, exercise, or other treatments, a person may consider surgery to reduce the appearance.