July 18, 2025 • 7 mins
A new weightloss medication is now available in New Zealand – accessible on a private, nonsubsidised script.
Dr Bryan Betty joined Jack Tame to discuss Wegovy – what it is, how you use it, the side effects, and why people are seeking medical treatment for their weight.
What is Wegovy?
- A once-weekly injection for weight loss known as a ‘GP-1 agonist’.
- It mimics a hormone in the gut that reduces our desire to eat and controls sugar in the blood.
- Developed originally for diabetes but found to help with weight loss, especially at higher doses.
- The same drug at lower does is known as Ozempic, which is used for diabetes.
Is obesity a problem in New Zealand? Why medication? Shouldn’t we just eat better and move more?
- We do have problem in New Zealand with obesity – it's a major heath issue.
- Over a third population is classified as obese, and it costs the economy $2 billion a year in healthcare costs.
- A good diet and exercise are critically important for weight loss.
- However once above BMI 30, it can be very hard to lose weight despite a person’s lifestyle, so medication can be a useful adjunct for some people in weight loss.
How do we use it and are there side-effects?
- Once-weekly injection. You adjust the dose every month until you reach the maximum dose.
- Side effects can include nausea, bloating, loose bowel motions, burping.
- More serious ones can occur but are very rare: pancreas inflammation, bowel obstruction.
- Most people have few issues.
Is there a cost and how long do you take it for?
- It is not funded by Pharmac and costs about $500 a month or $6000 a year.
- Many studies now show that when you stop, the weight can go back on.
- There is a shift to thinking these medications may need to be used long-term, much like a blood pressure or diabetes medication.
- It is safe for long term use.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
A B Well, if AI is drawing a lot of hyph,
then the new weight loss medications that have taken the
world by storm over the last couple of years must
be up there on a pretty similar level. Now, one
of them, we go V, is available in New Zealand,
so you've got to get a prescription and it's not
subsidized at the stage. But doctor Brian Betty is here
(00:31):
with the details this morning. Kild to Brian.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Oh, Jack and I see here.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Yeah, nice to chat with you as always. So what's
we GOV look?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
So look, it's a once weekly injection for weight loss
and it's it's known as a GP one agonist. That's
its its title. Now. It actually mimics a hormone we
have naturally in the gut, and this hormone makes us
feel full, reduces our desire to eat, and also controls
blood sugars in the blood. Now, it was originally this
medication called semiglue tide, that's what is called its trait.
(01:02):
It's its generic name. Was developed originally for diabetes, but
in higher doses was found it had this side effect
allowing you to lose weight and especially at these higher doses.
So we've had this GP one ageness for diabetes in
this country for several years now under trade name Trilicity
and the tozer, and people may be familiar with that.
But there was an interesting thing that happened in the
(01:24):
United States that when this was released as a medication
called a zenpic, which people may be familiar with, it
was essentially hy gob at a lower dosage and it
was used for diabetes. However, people realized it made them
lose weight, so there was a huge amount of off
label use that was prescribed. That was people started prescribing
it for weight loss. Now, interesting enough, there was suddenly
(01:45):
a global shortage because so much of the stuff has
been used, and we've been coping with that for our
diabetes medication for the about the last eighteen months two years. However,
production worldwide has now lifted, so there's now not a shortage,
and this medication would goby, which is a diabetes medication
at a higher dose, is now available in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
So to be totally clear, we go is the same
as ozen pic, but just at a higher dose.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yeah, it's the same medication as those zepic, except at
a higher dose. So so that that's a differential. So
the lower dose use for diabetes, higher dose once a
week used for weight loss.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Ah, okay, and so you can get it now for
weight loss as well as for diabetes in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Well you know that two things. You use a medication
called Trillicity for weight loss. But again it's this GP
one agaist. It's at a lower dose. We use that
specifically for weight loss, but we're GOV is only used
specifically for diabetes. Sorry, we're GOV is only used for
weight loss, not diabetes.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
So we're GOV. You have a higher dose, use it
once a week. Trillicity is for diabetes, and you use
that or more regularly low dose.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And that that's also what we call a GP one agonist, right,
that's okay, we'll be familiar with. So so yeah, so
higher dose, that's the key thing.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
And to the and to to how it works. So
it obviously kind of stops your cravings, it has that impact,
but it also has the physiological impact of controlling sugars
in the blood.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
So yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
So if we would only have one of those, it
would still have some impact, but presumably but because it
kind of has that two tiered approach, it's particularly effective.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yeah yeah, that's exactly right. So you do get a
little bit of weight loss and those lower dose medications. However,
when you use this higher dose, you tend to get
a larger weight loss and actually at the high dose
of the diabetes effect wears off. So so it's specifically
at this dosage used for weight loss.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah, yeah, that's interesting. Okay, all right, so is if
we'll focus on the obesity side of things to what
extent is obesity a problem in New Zealand and why
medication shouldn't we just you know, eat better, move more,
you know, consider some of the environmental impacts, some of
the economic impacts.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Maybe, yeah, yeah, So look to your first question. Yes,
we do have a problem in New Zealand with obesity.
It is a major health issue. We estimate about thirty
percent of the population or a third of the population
could be classified as a beese or overweight, and that
is a major cost to the economy. It costs about
two billion dollars a year and associated costs such as
(04:15):
cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which are often associated with being overweight.
So it is a big, big issue in New Zealand.
Now you're right, good diet exercise is critically important in
weight loss and for overall health, so there's no doubt
about it. However, once you BMI gets up above that
thirty mark, it can often be very very hard to
(04:38):
lose weight despite lifestyle, and that's for a number of reasons.
It's due to genetics, metabolism. Everyone's slightly different with us
and for anyone who's tried to lose weight, they'll know
what I'm talking about that it can be very very
difficult the way the body is made up or individuals
metabolism is made. So what's happened is these medications become
(05:01):
a sort of SI I suppose an adjunct something in
the toolbox which can can be benef official for some
people to help them lose weight. Not all people, but
some people it can be very very useful, and that's
what's sort of happened over the last few years.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
So it's a once weekly injection. Are they side effects?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, no, there is, Like anything, there is side effects.
So once we have the injection, you were just the
dose every month, so you start to lower dose and
ty trate the dose up every month. Now the common
side effects, we find a gastric side effect, so that's
things like nausea, bloating, loose bowel motions, and burping. They
tend to be relatively minor and they can be managed
(05:36):
by a dusting diet generally. Now there are some as always,
there are some more serious side effects, and pancreous inflammation
can be one. Vowel obstruction it can actually be another.
And actually a fast heart rate is another one that's
sometimes seen. Now again those are very rare, especially the
pancreous inflammation of our obstruction, so we shouldn't get too
(05:57):
concerned about it, but we need to be aware of them.
Most people can take the medication with very few issues,
so it's not fine.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Right, So it's not und to buy farmat costs about
five hundred bucks a year. How long do you take
it for?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, look so yeah, yeah, six thousand years. So no,
they're not funded by expensive Yeah, it is expensive medication,
so it's a real consideration. Look, Unfortunately, a lot of
the studies now show that once if you do lose weight,
if you stop the medication, then within two years your
weight tends to come back on. The body is very
(06:32):
good at putting the weight back on and storing energy.
It's pre program to do that, so that that's a
real issue. Regardless of how we lose weight, that tends
to be a problem. So there has been a shift
to thinking over the last few years that, look, these
medications may be needed to use long term. That that
sort of like our diabetes medications or our blood pressure medications,
(06:53):
that obesity medications may be a long term chronic care
medication that we have to use. And there certainly is
starting to be a shift in thinking too that way. However,
it is safe to use long term, so that that's
the issue that let's see it. So there's certainly a
safe medication for long term use.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Thanks for your time, Brian, We really appreciate it. Ano'd
be so much interest in that. Doctor Brian Betty with
us this morning.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talks ed b from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
A B Well, if AI is drawing a lot of hyph,
then the new weight loss medications that have taken the
world by storm over the last couple of years must
be up there on a pretty similar level. Now, one
of them, we go V, is available in New Zealand,
so you've got to get a prescription and it's not
subsidized at the stage. But doctor Brian Betty is here
(00:31):
with the details this morning. Kild to Brian.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Oh, Jack and I see here.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Yeah, nice to chat with you as always. So what's
we GOV look?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
So look, it's a once weekly injection for weight loss
and it's it's known as a GP one agonist. That's
its its title. Now. It actually mimics a hormone we
have naturally in the gut, and this hormone makes us
feel full, reduces our desire to eat, and also controls
blood sugars in the blood. Now, it was originally this
medication called semiglue tide, that's what is called its trait.
(01:02):
It's its generic name. Was developed originally for diabetes, but
in higher doses was found it had this side effect
allowing you to lose weight and especially at these higher doses.
So we've had this GP one ageness for diabetes in
this country for several years now under trade name Trilicity
and the tozer, and people may be familiar with that.
But there was an interesting thing that happened in the
(01:24):
United States that when this was released as a medication
called a zenpic, which people may be familiar with, it
was essentially hy gob at a lower dosage and it
was used for diabetes. However, people realized it made them
lose weight, so there was a huge amount of off
label use that was prescribed. That was people started prescribing
it for weight loss. Now, interesting enough, there was suddenly
(01:45):
a global shortage because so much of the stuff has
been used, and we've been coping with that for our
diabetes medication for the about the last eighteen months two years. However,
production worldwide has now lifted, so there's now not a shortage,
and this medication would goby, which is a diabetes medication
at a higher dose, is now available in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
So to be totally clear, we go is the same
as ozen pic, but just at a higher dose.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yeah, it's the same medication as those zepic, except at
a higher dose. So so that that's a differential. So
the lower dose use for diabetes, higher dose once a
week used for weight loss.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Ah, okay, and so you can get it now for
weight loss as well as for diabetes in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Well you know that two things. You use a medication
called Trillicity for weight loss. But again it's this GP
one agaist. It's at a lower dose. We use that
specifically for weight loss, but we're GOV is only used
specifically for diabetes. Sorry, we're GOV is only used for
weight loss, not diabetes.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
So we're GOV. You have a higher dose, use it
once a week. Trillicity is for diabetes, and you use
that or more regularly low dose.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And that that's also what we call a GP one agonist, right,
that's okay, we'll be familiar with. So so yeah, so
higher dose, that's the key thing.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
And to the and to to how it works. So
it obviously kind of stops your cravings, it has that impact,
but it also has the physiological impact of controlling sugars
in the blood.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
So yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
So if we would only have one of those, it
would still have some impact, but presumably but because it
kind of has that two tiered approach, it's particularly effective.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yeah yeah, that's exactly right. So you do get a
little bit of weight loss and those lower dose medications. However,
when you use this higher dose, you tend to get
a larger weight loss and actually at the high dose
of the diabetes effect wears off. So so it's specifically
at this dosage used for weight loss.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah, yeah, that's interesting. Okay, all right, so is if
we'll focus on the obesity side of things to what
extent is obesity a problem in New Zealand and why
medication shouldn't we just you know, eat better, move more,
you know, consider some of the environmental impacts, some of
the economic impacts.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Maybe, yeah, yeah, So look to your first question. Yes,
we do have a problem in New Zealand with obesity.
It is a major health issue. We estimate about thirty
percent of the population or a third of the population
could be classified as a beese or overweight, and that
is a major cost to the economy. It costs about
two billion dollars a year and associated costs such as
(04:15):
cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which are often associated with being overweight.
So it is a big, big issue in New Zealand.
Now you're right, good diet exercise is critically important in
weight loss and for overall health, so there's no doubt
about it. However, once you BMI gets up above that
thirty mark, it can often be very very hard to
(04:38):
lose weight despite lifestyle, and that's for a number of reasons.
It's due to genetics, metabolism. Everyone's slightly different with us
and for anyone who's tried to lose weight, they'll know
what I'm talking about that it can be very very
difficult the way the body is made up or individuals
metabolism is made. So what's happened is these medications become
(05:01):
a sort of SI I suppose an adjunct something in
the toolbox which can can be benef official for some
people to help them lose weight. Not all people, but
some people it can be very very useful, and that's
what's sort of happened over the last few years.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
So it's a once weekly injection. Are they side effects?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, no, there is, Like anything, there is side effects.
So once we have the injection, you were just the
dose every month, so you start to lower dose and
ty trate the dose up every month. Now the common
side effects, we find a gastric side effect, so that's
things like nausea, bloating, loose bowel motions, and burping. They
tend to be relatively minor and they can be managed
(05:36):
by a dusting diet generally. Now there are some as always,
there are some more serious side effects, and pancreous inflammation
can be one. Vowel obstruction it can actually be another.
And actually a fast heart rate is another one that's
sometimes seen. Now again those are very rare, especially the
pancreous inflammation of our obstruction, so we shouldn't get too
(05:57):
concerned about it, but we need to be aware of them.
Most people can take the medication with very few issues,
so it's not fine.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Right, So it's not und to buy farmat costs about
five hundred bucks a year. How long do you take
it for?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, look so yeah, yeah, six thousand years. So no,
they're not funded by expensive Yeah, it is expensive medication,
so it's a real consideration. Look, Unfortunately, a lot of
the studies now show that once if you do lose weight,
if you stop the medication, then within two years your
weight tends to come back on. The body is very
(06:32):
good at putting the weight back on and storing energy.
It's pre program to do that, so that that's a
real issue. Regardless of how we lose weight, that tends
to be a problem. So there has been a shift
to thinking over the last few years that, look, these
medications may be needed to use long term. That that
sort of like our diabetes medications or our blood pressure medications,
(06:53):
that obesity medications may be a long term chronic care
medication that we have to use. And there certainly is
starting to be a shift in thinking too that way. However,
it is safe to use long term, so that that's
the issue that let's see it. So there's certainly a
safe medication for long term use.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Thanks for your time, Brian, We really appreciate it. Ano'd
be so much interest in that. Doctor Brian Betty with
us this morning.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talks ed b from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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