Belief weight loss drugs could be affordable and available to New Zealanders by this time next year

Pharmac received two applications to fund Wegovy or semaglutide.

One in three people over the age of 15 are classified as obese, and one in eight children aged between two and 14.

Auckland University Professor of Molecular Medicine Peter Shepherd says they're effective drugs at improving heath outcomes and there needs to be a solution that works.

He says it's too expensive right now - but there are lots of cheaper versions coming from places like China.