A free screening of The Whale will be held at a North East university to mark World Obesity Day.
The screening, will be at the University of Sunderland on March 10 at 2pm.
Academics are inviting both students and members of the public to explore the issue of weight stigma and the power of film to challenge perceptions in an innovative research collaboration.
Professor Yitka Graham, head of the Helen McArdle Nursing and Research Institute, and Lee Hall, head of School of Media and Creative Industries, will host the free screening.
The film stars Brendan Fraser who won Best Actor at the 2023 Oscars for his portrayal of an English professor living with obesity.
Professor Graham said: "Society values a thin or normal size body shape, and this is deeply ingrained into societal discourse.
"Excess weight is often blamed on the individual when in fact the reasons for this are complex and multifactorial.
"Biological, genetic, environmental and economic factors are just some of the reasons at play.
"Weight loss cannot often be achieved by eating less and burning more calories - this is an outdated and superficial way of thinking.
"As a result, people living with obesity are often subject to stigma, which often results in social isolation, poor quality of life and these can prevent people living with obesity from sources of support and help seeking.
"Many people living with stigma do not want to speak out for fear of judgement and scrutiny."
The event is the first in a series of public screenings aimed at exploring the role of filmmaking in challenging and sometimes reinforcing stigma.
Tickets can be booked on Eventbrite website.
Share