Image heating apparatus

An image heating apparatus comprising:

• a cylindrical film;
• a nip forming member contacting an inner surface of said film;
• a supporting member configured to support said nip forming member;
• and
• a high heat conductive sheet sandwiched between said nip forming member and said supporting member,
• wherein a recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from said film,
• wherein said supporting member includes a bearing surface contacting said sheet and an opposing surface opposing a part of said nip forming member not opposing said sheet, the bearing surface and the opposing surface forming a stepped portion in which the opposing surface is positioned closer to said nip forming member than the bearing surface in a thickness direction of said nip forming member,
• wherein the thickness of said sheet under a non-pressure state is larger than the height of the stepped portion between the bearing surface and the opposing surface, and
• wherein in a state in which pressure is applied between said nip forming member and said supporting member, said sheet is compressed between said nip forming member and the bearing surface of said supporting member such that said nip forming member contacts the opposing surface of said supporting member.