Shaquille O’Neal takes Zepbound, spotlight shifts to side effects

Shaquille O’Neal says he’s taking the GLP-1 drug Zepbound to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea tied to obesity. His disclosure lands amid rising public debate over GLP-1 stigma, body-image pressure, and the gap between how these medications are

Shaquille O’Neal didn’t talk about GLP-1s as a trend. He described them as something deeply personal—one he chose to discuss publicly because obstructive sleep apnea is “serious but often overlooked.”

At 54. the retired NBA star told GQ he’s taking Zepbound. pointing to the sleep condition that left him remembering the snoring. the daytime tiredness. fatigue. and difficulty focusing after his playing days. Zepbound is FDA approved for the treatment of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity.

“I chose to share my experience because OSA is a serious but often overlooked condition. ” O’Neal said in the interview. “I want to help people if I can. because I can remember. especially when I stopped playing. the snoring. the daytime tiredness. a lot of fatigue. and being unable to focus. So this is very personal to me.”.

O’Neal said he has also “made lifestyle changes” alongside starting on the GLP-1. He cited eating right, staying active, and taking lots of walks.

His disclosure arrives as more celebrities publicly acknowledge GLP-1 medications, a category often associated with weight loss and diabetes. The medication’s expanding profile has included potential benefits in other health areas. including lowering addiction risk and helping with PCOS—now referred to as PMOS. or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome—along with reducing the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

That broader medical discussion is increasingly colliding with a less comfortable online narrative: accusations around “scarily thin” celebrity transformations. arguments about hypocrisy in body-positive messaging. and disappointment aimed at athletes and actors showing visible changes on red carpets.

O’Neal is not the first former (or current) professional athlete to speak openly about GLP-1 use. Tennis legend Serena Williams has become the face of the company Ro.

Among weight-loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, the public conversation has grown louder even as the underlying medical reasons for use vary. In some cases, the most visible outcome is not a diagnosis being treated—it’s a body change.

GLP-1 stigma, and why it extends beyond weight

Side effects are part of the conversation, but stigma has become its own parallel issue. Between 2019 and 2024, the number of overweight and obese adults prescribed GLP-1 medications for weight loss increased 587%, according to the nonprofit Fair Health.

A study from Rice University. published in April in the International Journal of Obesity. found that social judgments can extend beyond whether people lose weight—also to how they do it. In that research. participants viewed people who used GLP-1 medication more negatively than those who lost weight through traditional methods or not at all.

Erin Standen, assistant professor of psychological sciences at Rice University, said in a statement: “We expected there might be some stigma around using a GLP-1, but what surprised us was the extent of it.”

The study suggests what some have dubbed “GLP-1 stigma,” where even those taking the drugs for health conditions other than obesity—like O’Neal—can face harsh judgment.

Williams has also spoken about the social friction around these drugs. She opened up in August 2025, and in December 2025 she told USA TODAY that she was aware of how much stigma remained but wanted an honest conversation about the medications, especially as the mom of two girls.

“My story with Ro and GLP-1s, I did everything to get healthy, and I wasn’t getting there,” Williams said.

For some critics, the problem isn’t only stigma—it’s the question it sparks: if even elite performers need GLP-1s to stay healthy, what does that imply for everyone else?

Experts point to multiple forces, including genetics

When celebrities turn GLP-1 use into public evidence of “results,” the expectation can quickly become simplistic: that weight change is purely a matter of willpower, exercise, or “doing everything right.”

Standen said the issue doesn’t start with individuals—it starts with the messages people absorb. “There’s such a strong cultural script around weight and what a ‘healthy’ body should look like,” she said. “Those messages can get in the way of people doing what’s actually best for them.”

The tension shows up in how the drugs are discussed and marketed. While being active and eating well can help with weight loss, the research line cited around the topic points to outside factors—like genetics—playing a bigger role than many assume.

Body image pressure and the “skinny celebs” debate

As O’Neal and other celebrities describe GLP-1 benefits, many GLP-1 advertisements center confidence and appearance rather than medical diagnosis. Williams’ Super Bowl commercial did not mention diabetes or any other diagnosable health conditions. The ad highlighted her 34-pound weight loss and said she was “moving better on Ro. ” despite already holding 23 Grand Slam titles.

Online, reactions have been far from supportive. One user wrote, “A world class athlete advertising a weight loss drug is insane.” Another said, “This is sad because many girls looked up to her, for me she had body goals… fit muscular.”

The broader backlash reflects a fear that the conversation is swinging away from body positivity and body neutrality. People have also raised concerns about a return to a beauty standard where being skinny is prioritized above all else.

Jameela Jamil, an actress who has been vocal in social conversation about celebrity health disclosures, is cited as saying she is “genuinely worried about my peers.”

Dr. Sarah Gupta. a psychiatrist and medical director at mental health service platform Modern Health. previously cautioned that the way these stories land can matter as much as the fact of treatment. She said: “The goal isn’t to ignore what’s happening. but to have the conversation in a way that supports health without creating more pressure. When the focus stays on individual bodies, even with good intentions, it can quickly become toxic and harmful.”.

In a story that began with one athlete remembering what sleep apnea felt like, the spotlight now stretches further—into how Americans talk about health, how they judge it, and how quickly a medical decision can turn into a cultural argument about bodies.

Shaquille O'Neal Zepbound GLP-1 obstructive sleep apnea Ozempic Wegovy Mounjaro Serena Williams Ro stigma body image International Journal of Obesity Rice University