on PinterestNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 12: Shaquille O’Neal attends the 2026 Disney Upfront at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on May 12, 2026 in New York City.
on PinterestNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 12: Shaquille O’Neal attends the 2026 Disney Upfront at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on May 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/FilmMagic)
- Shaquille O’Neal is taking Zepbound to help manage his weight and reduce obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms.
- Zepbound is FDA approved for moderate to severe OSA in adults living with obesity.
- Excess weight, especially around the neck, can worsen OSA symptoms by narrowing the airway and increasing the risk of collapse during sleep.
Shaquille O’Neal says taking Zepbound has helped improve symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition he has lived with for years.
In 2011, the NBA legend was diagnosed with moderate obstructive sleep apnea after taking part in an overnight sleep study conducted at Harvard Medical School.
“[The doctors] told me the what and whatnots to do and talked about certain things, but I ignored it…because I thought I was superhuman,” he told Healthline.
OSA is often an obesity-related disease in which the airway in the throat repeatedly collapses or becomes blocked while sleeping, said Karl Nadolsky, DO, director of the diabetes & endocrinology clinic at The Gym and an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Michigan State University.
“This causes you to briefly stop breathing multiple times per hour, leading to drops in oxygen, disrupted sleep, loud snoring, and daytime tiredness,” Nadolsky told Healthline. “Over time, untreated OSA can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and other serious health problems.”
Why O’Neal decided to take his sleep apnea more seriously
After his diagnosis, O’Neal tried using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, which involved wearing a mask to help keep his airway open while sleeping.
However, he said he didn’t use it effectively, so he stopped and his snoring continued to get worse.
“My snoring got so bad that my friends started making…funny videos out of them. And then I was always tired during the daytime,” said O’Neal.
O’Neal said moments like that helped him realize the importance of taking his health more seriously.
“[I] got with my doctor, and my doctor’s like, ‘Uh, you know what? You should think about Zepbound.’”
After discussing treatment options with his doctor, O’Neal decided to try Zepbound, a GLP-1 drug that is currently the only prescription medication that is FDA approved for moderate to severe OSA in adults with obesity.
Since he began taking the medication, O’Neal said he’s experienced improvements in his OSA symptoms, including fewer breathing interruptions during sleep.
Now he’s sharing his experience and using his platform to help raise awareness about the treatment option for others who are living with OSA, especially men who may be putting off seeking treatment.
“The problem with men? We think we’re superhuman, especially athletic men. Because, you know, when you play, you never get sick, and you never catch the flu, you just think you’re [invincible],” said O’Neal.
Why Zepbound may help reduce sleep apnea symptoms
Zepbound may help with moderate to severe OSA by addressing obesity, which plays a significant role in OSA, said Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park
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