Why does testosterone decrease?
This is a complicated question. The truth is that it depends on a combination of several factors.
1. OBESITY AND SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE
Increasing levels of obesity almost certainly play a role in decreasing testosterone levels. Being overweight can throw the body's hormone axis out of balance and affect how the body responds to insulin, both of which can lower testosterone levels.
Many of us today eat too much and don't exercise enough. Much of this is due to the digital revolution; e-commerce, technology and entertainment industries have grown rapidly, making it easier to prioritize convenience over health.
The digital age has changed the way we work. We prefer machines and automation to manual labor, which means that men's grip strength has decreased over time. Many jobs are now office based and some of us don't need to leave home to work. Sedentary people have lower testosterone.
But even after accounting for obesity, most studies still show a trend toward lower testosterone, meaning obesity may not be the only culprit.
2. EXTERNAL TOXINS
Annual global plastic production has grown from 50 million to 300 million tons since the 1970s. Science is now seeing a link between this and changes in our hormone health.
Many plastics contain endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). ERBs, as their name suggests, are chemicals that interfere with the body's hormones and can be natural or man-made. Some EPCs break down and accumulate slowly, making them potentially dangerous over time even at low doses.
EPCs are found in everyday products, including:
- Plastic bottles
- Food containers
- Metal food can linings
Detergents
Research Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Substances have identified a connection between attention, immunity, metabolism, puberty and reproductive effects. A few EBCs are associated with low sperm quality and testosterone levels, so they may be partially to blame for the population decline.
3. STRESS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
Acute stress can increase testosterone levels. But long-term physical and psychological stress can cause testosterone levels to drop.
Some say that as a society we are more stressed than ever. After all, many modern problems are nothing new: recession, political upheaval, the demands of work and family.
One of the big differences is that we are now constantly plugged in. We have phones in our pockets that ring with news and notifications, watches that not only ring when we try to communicate, and headphones that disconnect us from the real world around us. Everything is easy: we just need to press a button and we can access the information we want. One of the biggest distractions is cell phones.
Most children own a phone by age seven.
Smartphone use has been linked to emotional regulation difficulties, impulsivity, social media addiction, shyness, and low self-esteem. Physically, it can cause sleep problems, decreased physical activity, and migraines. Apps like TikTok and Instagram use algorithms to feed us the content we like, making it even harder for us to be self-aware.
Of course, smartphones and social media have their upsides. Some argue that digital communication can improve friendships and relationships or that it can inspire, motivate and give us new knowledge. But it is not superior to our health.
