Why? Why why why why? gynecomastia seems to be an unprecedented epidemic

[curiosity]

One question keeps me wondering: why?  I am very interested in statistics of regions of adult men with gyn.  I play sports with a group of mostly foreigners and a good number of them seem to have it, not many americans are there but the ones from Asia that have been in th U.S. Seem to have it.  One guy jokes about it, but it makes me realize how common it is maybe even 50% only the very thin and very fit dont have it, but even some of the thin guys have mild case of it, most of these men are middle  aged from late 20's to early 40;s then some of then are 40's to late 50's.  I want to know if there is a differance in % of population with or without, it seems to me that U.S. And UK males have it most often I'd like to see some data on other regions Canada, Europe Japan, etc, it seems the Japanese all are thin.  But WHY, I understand from multiple places online but espicially dr silversteins website states  something to the effect: "The bottom line with gynecomastia is that it occurs due to an abnormality in the ratio of testosterone to estrogens in the body. When this ratio is low, the estrogen effect is stronger and stimulates the growth of the tissue around the breast " yeah I get that, but what is causing THAT?  I read on wikipedia on the page on BPA that women with high BPA levels give birth to overwight babies, which can explain the surge in overwight people (among ofcourse many other things) I keep thinking as many of you all are, that it has something to do with BPA and modetn plastics production, not to mention all the other petrochemical porducts and other bullsheet that is made.  I mean we as humans have been creating an enormous amount of pollutants in the past century, which are in our food, drinks, even air....but what is it exactly?  It seems like gyno can and will reach epidemic levels.  I am so worried, maybe I am just a worry wort, but to me it seems like the onset of obesity, cancer, and now gyno is indicitive of some further problem we have yet to come to terms with.  What do ya'll think?  Or am I mislead, I am prsumming that this is an unprecidented condition in terms of numbers, is that wrong to think?  I am very interested in getting a conversation going, I know there have been alot of theories posted here before, I have read many of them.  WHY WHY WHY, there has got to be something.
So many people express that it come during puberty or even before, since early childhood, and yet there is this statement often found online: "if it is during puberty it will go away soon" yet so many express that it is not going away...Why!  If there are tens of thousands of surgeries performed each year, some group has got to be researching this phenomena. Right?
Also years in the past are there records of the prevelance of gyno in the 90's 80's 70's some time long ago as caused by some envirenmental anomoly?  It seems like a recent development.
This video is a look at the effects that leaded gasoline had on the population of youth.
It is a Vsauce channel video intitled "Our Narrow Slice" the portion about lead's effects starts at around 5 minutes, I found it fascinating.
Thanks for reading

[madhur_ahuja]

One of the theory is that it is occurring due to the drugs introduced in the chicken, pork and mutton to grow them prematurely so that they can be butchered for food at the early stage. These drugs contain some level of estrogen and when non veg food is eaten by humans, it goes into their body as well.

 This was put forth by my doctor. Although this is just a theory and even was he was unsure about rise in the cases these days.

[walt]

BPA in plastics ,birth control pill waste in treated water,gmo foods and hormones/antibiotics fed to live stock to bulk up girls develop way too early as well , we as a whole have done this to ourselves.

[MrSeb]

It may be a bit naive, and I'm certainly not denying a rise in the figures. However, could some of the rise be due to more men attending the doctors with these issues than they used to in the past, after all we men are known for a certain reticence when it comes to visiting the GP with health issues we consider either minor or embarrassing.

Could the easier access to global information also be a reason for an increase in the numbers?

[rhyno18]

I agree with comment above.  While i love a good conspiracy theory, you have to wonder how much of this an awareness issue.  I'm in my early 40s.  In high school or college where would I get information on it.  The Internet was barely being used by the general public.  It wasn't the type of issue you wanted to talk about with ANYBODY.

Nowadays people can reach out to people all over the world and feel much more comfortable talking about it. Cosmetic surgery is also much more mainstream.  Heck, I remember a gynecomastia story being on the local morning show  being touted as a nice 'Christmas Present'

It's like seeing a therapist.  25 years ago there was a stigma...now it's so common that no one bats an eye.

[Paa_Paw]

The problem with your theory is that the condition was common before the various food additives were in common use. I know because I am 76 years old and I developed the condition in early puberty myself.

I'll save you doing the math, I was born in 1937 and I was 12 in 1949.

The main thing that is different is that young men are much more concerned now. The internet and entertainment media have bombarded us with a lot of physical ideals that are not actually normal.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

King Tut had gynecomastia (shown on many of his statuary).  I guess the Egyptians were ahead of their time, using hormones on their cattle feed and using BPA in their plastic containers.

Fact is that gyne is not a new or modern misery -- it has been around forever.  We just didn't talk about it as much.

Dr Jacobs

[hammer]

King tut and other good points, good ones Doc!

As our fine doctor pointed out and our wise most senior member Paa_Paw pointed out gynecomastia has been around for ever! At 56 I've been around awhile, long enough to know it isn't something new because I too have had it all my life as well. I never know there was a name for it until I found this forum in 2011. I've never let it bother me that much.

[Quasar45]

you have got. Not to mention, we are at all times satisfied concerning the mind-blowing inspiring ideas served by you.

[Alchemist]

And Akanaten had gyno too.  I started at around 1959.  The old one gets, the more the cumulative incidence which is between 50 and 60%..

[jay adams]

I agree that awareness is the reason it seems more the norm. And remember just cause you have gyne doesn't mean your not normal. It is normal for our bodies to change even if you never had it. I just always had it. If you have a little more gyne than another person it's up to you to care. It's not a curse it's very normal. If you want to change your chest for personal goals it's up to you, but it's definitely not unnatural to have.

There's two types of peeps here. Some that want to perfect the outside to build a physic and that's a fun thing to do through training and fixing some tissue that's stopping us from getting ripped. But also there are many men that should also realize that they are not abnormal. I like what paw said when he said "the media gives us false realities that are bullshit." Not everyone has huge cocks and looks like porn stars. We are all beautiful creations and we have nothing to prove to anyone except the people we love.

Remember that life is much bigger than what others think. Stay strong. Get the surgery if you want. If not, to hell with people who only see the outside. I'm open about my surgery to all my friends and they're all starting to understanding how this can effect others and a lot of friends have it too. Some more than others, some that used to make fun of people that never knew i had it.

Everyone here should love themselves. Whether you want to train cause it makes you feel good or except the fact that this is normal. Believe in your good deeds and follow you heart.

God bless you all and do what makes you feel great.

[hammer]

Why to go Jay    well stated!

The very end says it all too, everybody should love themselves!

I would like to add, if they can't love themselves, they can't learn to love others!

[Paa_Paw]

Jay, I never said "Bullshit" except in a quote.

Lots of sites edit that out so I use "Camel Dung" everybody knows what I mean and the editors have not yet wised up to it.

[jay adams]

I took some liberties paw with the utmost respect:)