4 min readJul 13, 2025 07:56 AM IST
First published on: Jul 12, 2025 at 01:51 PM IST
A 24-year-old gym trainer approached Dr Samik Sharma, assistant professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH-32), Chandigarh, with enlarged breast tissue that was causing him both discomfort and embarrassment. Clearly, he had an imbalance of hormones, where he had a higher level of estrogen, like in women, compared to his testosterone. But what had caused it?
“There are various triggers for this condition called gynecomastia, which is commonly referred to as man boobs or moobs. As a gym trainer, he had tried all kinds of chest exercises to reduce the breast size, but with no results. On prodding, I found that he had been having muscle-building steroids, leaving him with no option but to go for surgery to remove the excess breast tissue and fat,” says Dr Sharma.
What are man boobs?
This is caused by a hormonal imbalance in men resulting from changes during puberty and ageing, certain medications, underlying health conditions like kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or testicular tumours, and lifestyle choices like excessive alcohol consumption or drug use.
But among younger people, man boobs have a lot to do with indiscriminate use of muscle-building steroids, gym supplements, processed food, high-fat diets and protein powder duplicates that are not of quality standards. In this case, it was excessive use of mass gainer and protein powders to bulk up and build muscle that caused the condition. These powders and shakes contain estrogen-like compounds which trigger breast tissue growth and suppress testosterone.
Have you noticed supplement-induced cases rising?
Over the last few years, the cases have increased with the department conducting 40 to 50 surgeries in a year, most of them in the age group of 16 to 35. Apart from feeling self-conscious, many men find it difficult to negotiate and find it tough to do day-to-day activities like running and jumping.
Gymming is a life-long process, instant results cannot be achieved and can cost your health. Teenagers get hooked on these protein supplements and steroids, which have a long-term impact on kidneys, liver, bones, and sperm count. Gym trainers themselves don’t know the science of nutrition, or are not certified to recommend these.
What does surgery entail?
Removing the excess glandular tissue and fat can take anywhere from one to three hours. Discharge is the same day, with a few post-op precautions of resting, not lifting weights and avoiding strenuous exercise for a few days. There are no scars and the effect is long-lasting. In the last two years, we have had 15 to 20 per cent NRIs seeking consultation, many of whom were about to get married and wanted to wear fitted tees and shirts without looking odd. We also had a case of a teenage boy who was being bullied at school because one of his breasts was enlarged. The surgery helped him gain confidence.
Can one build muscle with natural protein sources?
Yes, eggs and animal foods are rich sources of protein. Plant foods like tofu, broccoli and a mix of vegetables that have different amino acid combinations can help. In the end, you need a diet that is balanced with both macronutrients, vitamins and minerals, unlike a supplement. Six eggs will cost you around Rs 50 while a protein powder will set you back by thousands, and unless the source is certified, you cannot be sure of the quality.
Teenagers get hooked on these protein supplements and steroids, which have a long-term impact on kidneys, liver, bones, and sperm count. (Source: Freepik) 
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