Will a new film help to stop discrimination? The Whale, released today, is about a man suffering from obesity and mental health problems. But some people have criticised how it shows people with obesity.
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Fatphobia as toxic as poor diet say experts
Will a new film help to stop discrimination? The Whale, released today, is about a man suffering from obesity and mental health problems. But some people have criticised how it shows people with obesity.
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What's happening?
"I need to know that I have done one thing right with my life!" Charlie is the main character of a new film called The Whale. He suffers from obesityThe medical condition of being very overweight. There are many ways of measuring this, including a BMI of 30 or more. (You can work out your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared.) and he is trying to mend his relationship with his daughter.
The makers of The Whale wanted to make a film about the life of a person with obesity. They wanted to show that "we are all human".
But some say that the film does not treat Charlie like other people. Some critics say it is "fatphobic".
Find out more
The term fatphobia is becoming more widely known. It refers to discriminationWhen people are treated unfairly due to characteristics such as gender, race and age. against people who are overweight or obese.
Studies show that people who are overweight are more likely to face bullying and less likely to be hired for jobs.
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Will a new film help to stop discrimination?
Yes! It is important that people with obesity are included in films, television shows, books and more. It is the only way to stop discrimination.
No! Representing the lives of people with obesity is important, but this film will not help. We need films that show characters with obesity leading happy and positive lives.
Keywords
Obesity - The medical condition of being very overweight. There are many ways of measuring this, including a BMI of 30 or more. (You can work out your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared.)
Discrimination - When people are treated unfairly due to characteristics such as gender, race and age.
Fatphobia as toxic as poor diet say experts
Vicious circle: Scientists think that "weight stigma" actually increases the risk of gaining weight. Glossary
Obesity - The medical condition of being very overweight. There are many ways of measuring this, including a BMI of 30 or more. (You can work out your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared.)
Discrimination - When people are treated unfairly due to characteristics such as gender, race and age.