Even before receiving public funding, Wegovy has drawn much media attention in New Zealand for the dramatic difference it can make for weight loss.

But with its rise in popularity has come debate about what these next-generation drugs really mean for a worsening obesity crisis and its driving causes.

Last month, New Zealand’s drug-funding agency Pharmac added Wegovy to its list of medicines suitable for future public funding. If that happens – and it could quickly – the drug would initially be targeted at people with severe obesity, or who are overweight with related health conditions.

Right now, the drug’s private prescription costs – upwards of NZD$400 per month – places it beyond the reach of many New Zealanders, particularly those disproportionately affected by obesity. This has strengthened arguments that public funding could improve equity while reducing long-term health-care costs.

All the while, New Zealand continues to report some of the developed world’s highest obesity rates. Around one in three adults and one in eight children are today classified as obese, while roughly two thirds of adults are either overweight or obese.

That may make the prospect of public........

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