The Super Bowl has long acted as one of the biggest events for ads, and Super Bowl LX was no different. With Sunday's game setting a record for peak viewership with 137.8 million tuning in during the second quarter, the ads were all about the health craze.

From celebrity-backed wellness campaigns to controversial new treatments, the commercials sparked a major conversation about America's well-being

Mike Tyson’s “Eat Real Food” Ad

Former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson certainly stole the spotlight, delivering a blunt message about processed foods. Speaking about the ad, Bariatric specialist Mir Ali, MD, said, “I think the Tyson ad is great, making people aware of the problems of too much processed food.”

In the ad, Tyson shared the story of how he lost his sister, Denise, to a heart attack at 24, and explained why it’s important for America to stay healthy by eating whole foods. The ad certainly got all the praise, but not without criticism.

MH’s nutrition advisor, Dezi Abeyta, RDN, expressed, “It's far more about access than it is about discipline. Processed food, for many, is the only option. Before we villainize what people are eating, let’s ask what’s available in their zip code and how mental health support could be more of a solution than a shame spiral.”

GLP-1 Ads Take Center Stage

Every major GLP-1 brand dominated game-day ads. Telehealth platform Ro featured Serena Williams. The tennis icon revealed how she lost 34 lbs and improved her heart health. Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk took a spot to feature their FDA-approved Wegovy pill with DJ Khaled and Kenan Thompson.

Yet it wasn’t without controversy. Robert Glatter, MD, said, “The issue is that such medications need to be taken for long periods of time and lead to loss of muscle mass if one is not staying active.”

He further added, “Their side effect profile is significant, and many people stop taking GLP-1s due to intolerance.”

The Him & Her Longevity Commercial

Narrated by rapper and actor Common, the Him & Hers longevity commercial stirred the spot. While the ad highlighted advanced testing and preventative care, medical professionals raised concerns about overpromising results, especially around cancer blood tests.

Emergency physician Robert Glatter, MD, explained, “The Galleri blood test has modest overall sensitivity or screening ability of 51 to 66 percent for cancer detection, with its performance highly dependent on cancer stage. The test's low sensitivity (screening ability) for early-stage disease means it will miss many cancers, particularly those most amenable to curative treatment.”

Although these three ads stirred up a lot of conversation, they weren't the only health and well-being-centric spots. William Shatner’s Raisin Bran commercial, Sofía Vergara and Octavia Spencer’s uACR test campaign, and Novartis’s PSA blood-test commercial also aired during Super Bowl LX.

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi