Men with Larger Breasts Prone to Earlier Death, Research Shows

According to research, men with more breast tissue are more likely to die young. Men can have larger levels of breast tissue due to excess weight, known as pseudogynecomastia or “man boobs,” or a hormonal condition known as gynecomastia, which causes larger breasts in addition to weight gain. Gynecomastia affects 30–60 percent of men.

Gynecomastia may be associated with a higher risk of death before the age of 75. Men with a pre-existing risk factor, such as cancer or other diseases, are particularly vulnerable before being diagnosed with gynecomastia.

These findings will hopefully stimulate more awareness among healthcare providers to potentially apply interventions that aid in alleviating underlying risk factors in males with this condition,” the authors wrote in the paper.

Gynecomastia can occur at any age, but it is most common during times of sex hormone change, such as puberty, shortly after birth, or later in life. As men’s testosterone levels decline as they age, gynecomastia can develop and be exacerbated by weight gain, which often occurs concurrently.

Unveiling the Hidden Dangers of Gynecomastia in Men

The researchers analyzed data from 23,429 Danish men who were diagnosed with gynecomastia between 1995 and 2021. The men were divided into two groups: those with idiopathic gynecomastia, meaning the cause was unknown, and those with gynecomastia caused by a pre-existing condition or medication.

The study discovered that when compared to randomly selected men without the condition, they had a 37% higher risk of premature death. Men with gynecomastia associated with another condition had a 75 percent higher risk of dying early than healthy men, whereas men with idiopathic gynecomastia had a 5 percent higher risk.

Men with cancer had a 74% increased risk of developing gynecomastia, while lung and gut diseases had a two-fold and five-fold increase in risk, respectively. Liver diseases, as well as gallbladder, biliary tract, and pancreatic disorders, were all linked to increased risk.

Men with idiopathic gynecomastia were twice as likely as the reference group to die young from liver disease.

The study did not address deaths from multiple causes, or whether the men had been exposed to hormone-altering substances and steroids, so more research is needed on this topic. The authors hope that their findings will bring more attention to the risks that men with gynecomastia face.

“These results should therefore prompt thorough clinical examination to identify the underlying risk factors associated with increased death,” they said.

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