Shaquille O’Neal Shares How Zepbound Helped with Sleep Apnea and Weight Loss

• 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.

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.”

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 Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine.

“Excess weight, especially around the neck, can narrow the airway and increase the risk of collapse during sleep,” he told Healthline. “Clinical evidence suggests that weight loss is highly effective in reducing disease severity.”

Losing 10% to 15% of body weight can reduce OSA severity by as much as 50% in people with moderate obesity, Dimitriu said.

For people seeking ways to treat sleep apnea symptoms, O’Neal encourages people to talk with a healthcare professional.

“If you’re experiencing snoring, daytime tiredness, fatigue, get with your doctor and let him prescribe what’s best for you,” O’Neal said.

Dimitriu agreed, noting that several treatment options are available and that a doctor can help determine which is most appropriate.

“CPAP remains the gold standard for treating OSA because it effectively uses pressurized room air to keep the airway open,” said Dimitriu.

“Even while taking Zepbound, many patients with OSA may still require CPAP to manage their symptoms effectively, especially while the weight loss is in progress or if they have anatomical factors like a small jaw (and crowded teeth to prove it) that contribute to the obstruction,” he added.

However, he also noted that many people like O’Neal have a hard time using CPAP, with roughly 30% to 60% of people using it consistently.

“It’s exciting to see new pharmacologic options like GLP-1 agents being utilized for OSA, as CPAP adherence has historically been poor,” Dimitriu said. “There’s also a sleep apnea pill in the pipeline, but weight loss helps overall health in general, in addition to sleep, so it’s a win.”

When O’Neal learned that a reduced-calorie diet and exercise plan could maximize Zepbound’s effectiveness, he prioritized making lifestyle changes.

He now focuses on eating a lot of protein, including chicken, fish, and steak, to help manage his weight and overall health.

“I used to eat four or five McDonald’s [items] a day; not anymore,” said O’Neal. “I have to eat a high-calorie-reduced diet, and work out more, and I just can’t do things that [I] used to do. Like, my favorite thing was club sandwiches. I like bread. But [bread] can get me in trouble now. I’m trying to eat really healthy.”

He has also adjusted his exercise routine, which includes regularly using an elliptical machine and, more recently, a bike.

“I just bought a bike, so I’m doing a lot of biking now,” he said.

He also noted that guidance from a healthcare professional is important while getting treated for OSA and obesity, as well as after stopping medication like Zepbound.

“Maintenance is very important as obesity is a chronically progressive and recurring disease that fights to protect itself, and most people regain a substantial amount of weight if they stop therapy,” he said.

“These therapies may be indefinite, but we are learning more ways to reduce the dose or use other medications, if and as needed, to help with that weight loss maintenance.”

For O’Neal, improving his health is about more than managing sleep apnea symptoms or losing weight. He said he and his family hope the changes he’s making today will help him live a longer, healthier life, so he can share many more moments with them.

“One of my sons said, ‘I can’t wait until my babies call you Grandpa.’”