Frequent smoking of marijuana may cause men to grow 'man boobs', a recent study finds.
Dr. Anthony Youn from YOUN Plastic Surgery in Detroit claims cannabis can lower testosterone levels in men which then leads to the over development of breast tissue. Man boobs or 'moobs' are therefore caused by an imbalance in testosterone and estrogen levels. Dr. Youn explained that when the imbalance favors the estrogen instead of the testosterone, extra breast tissue is created and this tips off the balance. Moobs, or as they are clinically known as gynaecomastia, affects approximately 33 to 41 percent of men aged between 25 and 44. 60 percent of teenage boys and roughly around 55 to 60 percent of people aged 50 and beyond are also affected by the condition.
He confirmed that in animals, marijuana results in the falling of testosterone levels, shrinking testicles and abnormalities in sperm. However, the effects of marijuana on humans are not as clear but the levels of hormone of men who use marijuana are much lower than those who do not use it. "So can smoking pot really give you man boobs? Probably. Although the association between marijuana and gynaecomastia hasn't been conclusively proven, it appears very plausible."
"For this reason, the majority of plastic surgeons I've consulted with routinely inquire with their gynaecomastia patients about cannabis use and recommend they stop smoking pot immediately." Dr. Youn also added that men who smoke pot and have man boobs should probably put out their joints, although most cases resolve themselves within a couple of years. Still, the removal of excess breast tissues is considered to be the fifth most common plastic surgery choice among men in the United States.
