Overview
- O'Neal has publicly disclosed he is taking Zepbound, a GLP-1 medication, and says he has seen fewer breathing interruptions and better daytime energy since starting treatment.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) is the first GLP-1 drug with an FDA indication for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults living with obesity.
- O'Neal was diagnosed with moderate OSA after a 2011 sleep study at Harvard Medical School and later stopped using CPAP because he could not stick with it, leading his doctor to recommend Zepbound.
- He has paired the medication with a reduced-calorie, higher-protein diet and more exercise, while sleep experts emphasize that CPAP remains the clinical gold standard and many patients may still need it during weight loss.
- By fronting an Eli Lilly campaign, O'Neal has put celebrity focus on GLP-1 therapies, which could raise patient interest and demand while underscoring the need for doctor supervision and long-term weight maintenance plans.