Chest fat in men may be caused by a number of problems, from medical conditions such as gynecomastia to excess fat depositing itself in your chest. No matter what the reason, excess chest fat in men should be diagnosed and treated in order to avoid other potential health problems.
Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is the abnormal development of breasts in men. True gynecomastia is caused by a growth of breast tissue rather than excess chest fat in men. Gynecomastia is usually temporary and benign. It affects more than half of all boys when they reach puberty, according to MedlinePlus, and it usually goes away on its own.
Pseudogynecomastia
Pseudogynecomastia is a condition in which you experience breast enlargement due to the accumulation of fat in the chest area of men. This condition can be diagnosed by a physical examination, in which the doctor places his thumb and forefinger at opposite margins of the breast in order to feel enlarged glandular tissue beneath the areola area.
Causes
Changes in your levels of androgens and estrogens--hormones that affect male and female characteristics--can cause enlarged breast tissue in the chest of men. Other causes include steroid abuse, genetic disorders, aging or various medical conditions. You can also develop excess chest fat if you are obese.
Remedies
In the case of chest fat due to obesity, simply losing a bit of weight may help. You can also perform exercises such as push-ups or the seated row to target the muscle beneath the chest fat and reduce the wobble. Other treatments depend on the cause of the chest fat. If you have chest fat as a result of steroids or other drug use, discontinuance of the drug may reduce or eliminate the chest fat. However, if you have true gynecomastia, the only way to entirely eliminate the excess tissue is to have surgery.
Psychological Impact
Males with gynecomastia, pseudogynecomastia or excess fat in the chest area can experience embarrassment, shame, anxiety and humiliation. These conditions are difficult to hide, which may present problems for developing relationships. It is important to work through the psychological scars on the inside. Get counseling in order to help avoid anxiety or depression. This can also help you communicate with your partner, family or friends. Reach out to people who you may be close with in order to have a good emotional support network. And connect with others who have these problems in order to talk with men who have had similar experiences as you.
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