Basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal is stepping into a new spotlight—this time not on the court, but on a health condition often dismissed as simple snoring.

 

Eli Lilly and Company announced a national campaign featuring O’Neal, who is sharing his experience with moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and his treatment journey with Zepbound (tirzepatide). 

 

The campaign aims to raise awareness of a condition that affects an estimated 24 million adults in the US, many of whom remain undiagnosed.

 

“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,” said O'Neal. 

 

“When my doctor told me I had moderate obstructive sleep apnea, it clicked – this wasn't just about snoring, it was a real health condition. Being prescribed Zepbound helped make a difference for me in my OSA treatment journey; I even lost some weight. If sharing my story helps even one person talk to their doctor, that's a win.”

 

O’Neal said he had long dismissed symptoms such as fatigue, loud snoring, and poor focus as normal. He now says the diagnosis reframed years of daily struggles as a treatable medical condition.

 

Moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by repeated breathing interruptions during sleep, often leading to daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. According to Lilly, roughly 85% of cases remain undiagnosed.

 

“Millions of people are living with moderate-to-severe OSA and may experience snoring, daytime sleepiness and irritability,” said Lina Polimeni, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, consumer, at Lilly. 

 

“Shaquille was one of those people, so he didn't simply want to be another name on a campaign – he wanted to tell the truth about his own health on his own terms. That kind of honesty can help move other people from thinking they are just tired, experience chronic snoring, and have trouble sleeping, to recognizing they should talk to their doctor.”

 

Lilly is rolling out a nationwide campaign titled Watch This, built around O’Neal’s personal story. It will span broadcast, streaming, digital, and community events, with O’Neal appearing in media and in-person engagements to encourage people to recognize symptoms and seek care.

 

The company says Zepbound is the first prescription medicine indicated for adults with moderate-to-severe OSA and obesity, and should be used alongside diet and exercise.

 

“Zepbound is the first and only prescription medicine approved for moderate-to-severe OSA in adults with obesity along with diet and exercise. Shaquille's story is a powerful reminder of how many people are living with this condition without knowing it and our goal is to make sure they have a clear path from awareness to diagnosis to care.”

 

In clinical studies cited by Lilly, patients taking Zepbound showed significant reductions in breathing interruptions during sleep, with some achieving near-normal sleep metrics after one year.

 

“At Lilly, our commitment to transforming cardiometabolic health is grounded in both scientific innovation and patient access,” said Ilya Yuffa, executive vice president and president of Lilly USA and Global Customer Capabilities. 

 

“Zepbound is the first and only prescription medicine approved for moderate-to-severe OSA in adults with obesity along with diet and exercise. Shaquille's story is a powerful reminder of how many people are living with this condition without knowing it and our goal is to make sure they have a clear path from awareness to diagnosis to care.”

 

O’Neal is also featured in a Q&A segment encouraging people who experience symptoms like loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, or difficulty concentrating to speak with a doctor rather than ignore them.

 

“For a long time, I was tired during the day, snoring and gasping for air at night, and I just thought that's how it was for someone like me. Turns out, I have moderate OSA and I didn't even know it. Once I was diagnosed, my doctor prescribed Zepbound and has made a real difference for me. I'm partnering with Lilly because if something feels off with your sleep, you shouldn't just push through. Talk to your doctor. That's the play.”

 

Lilly says the campaign is intended to close a major awareness gap in sleep apnea diagnosis and encourage earlier conversations between patients and healthcare providers.

 

Zepbound, a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist also used for weight management, is indicated for adults with obesity or overweight with related conditions, and must be combined with diet and exercise. The company also included extensive safety warnings and side effect information in its release.