Shaquille O’Neal Highlights Sleep Apnea Treatment With Zepbound

Eli Lilly and Company has launched a new national awareness campaign featuring basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal to spotlight moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common yet frequently undiagnosed sleep disorder affecting millions of adults in the United States.

The campaign, titled “Watch This,” centers on O’Neal’s personal experience with OSA and his treatment journey with Zepbound® (tirzepatide), Lilly’s prescription medicine approved for moderate-to-severe OSA in adults with obesity. Through television, streaming, digital, social media, and community-based outreach efforts, the initiative aims to encourage individuals experiencing symptoms of OSA to seek medical evaluation and treatment.

O’Neal revealed that for years he dismissed symptoms such as daytime fatigue, poor sleep quality, loud snoring, and difficulty concentrating as normal consequences of his size and demanding lifestyle. However, after consulting a physician, he learned that these symptoms were linked to moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, a serious condition characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep.

According to Lilly, approximately 24 million adults in the United States are affected by obstructive sleep apnea, with obesity being one of the most significant risk factors. Despite its prevalence, an estimated 85% of moderate-to-severe OSA cases remain undiagnosed and untreated, potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, cognitive impairment, and reduced quality of life.

“ For a long time, I was tired during the day, not sleeping well at night, and I just thought that’s how it was for someone my size,” O’Neal said. He explained that receiving an OSA diagnosis helped him understand that his symptoms were part of a medical condition rather than simply a normal aspect of daily life. O’Neal added that treatment with Zepbound made a meaningful difference in his journey and also contributed to weight loss.

Lilly executives said the campaign seeks to close the awareness gap surrounding OSA by helping people recognize symptoms that may otherwise go ignored. Lina Polimeni, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Lilly’s consumer business, noted that O’Neal wanted to share an authentic account of his health experience rather than simply serve as a spokesperson.

The campaign also highlights clinical data supporting Zepbound’s effectiveness in treating moderate-to-severe OSA in adults with obesity. In two 52-week clinical studies, patients receiving Zepbound alongside diet and exercise experienced substantial reductions in breathing interruptions during sleep compared with placebo. One study showed a reduction from an average of 52.9 breathing disruptions per hour to 27.6, while another involving patients using positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy reduced disruptions from 46.1 events per hour to 16.8.

Additionally, a significant proportion of participants achieved remission or mild OSA with no symptoms after one year of treatment. In the studies, 42.2% of adults taking Zepbound reached remission or mild disease without symptoms, compared with 15.9% in the placebo group. Among patients using PAP therapy, the figure rose to 50.2%, versus 14.3% for placebo.

Ilya Yuffa, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly USA and Global Customer Capabilities, emphasized that Zepbound is currently the first and only prescription medicine approved specifically for moderate-to-severe OSA in adults with obesity when used alongside diet and exercise. He said O’Neal’s story demonstrates how many individuals may be living with the condition unknowingly and underscores the importance of improving access to diagnosis and treatment.

Through the “Watch This” campaign, Lilly hopes to increase public understanding of sleep apnea and encourage more patients to seek medical advice, potentially improving outcomes for millions of adults who remain undiagnosed.