December 27, 2021

The World Health Organization’s Definition of Health

health

The World Health Organization’s Definition of Health

The World Health Organization defines health as “the state of complete well-being and the absence of disease and injury.” Although this definition may be helpful, it is too narrow and excludes a whole segment of the life cycle. Today, most nations are aging and there is a pressing need for a more holistic definition of health. Adaptation, resilience, and self-management are crucial elements in the concept of health. The World Bank and IMF also recommend adopting a holistic definition of wellness.

The term ‘complete health’ refers to complete physical and mental well-being. It is unrealistic and often counterproductive. For example, it fails to take into account chronic illnesses, disabilities, and the realities of modern life. Moreover, the concept of ‘complete health’ has a tendency to promote overmedication, which has negative consequences for health. However, a more realistic definition of health should include mental and social well-being.

The World Health Organisation defines health as complete physical, social, and mental wellbeing. The concept is consistent with a biopsychosocial model of health, which considers the interaction of psychological, social, and environmental factors. The traditional medical model of health focuses on the presence of disease and clinical intervention. In contrast, the WHO’s definition places emphasis on wellbeing and self-management. Hence, it is essential to redefine health to fit modern life. There are many types of mental and physical wellness, but there is no one “perfect” form of wellbeing.

In simple terms, health is an individual’s ability to cope with the environment around them. It’s also a social process that is interdependent and affects the quality of life. The WHO’s definition of health defines health as the presence of mental and physical health. The World Health Organization constitution states that, “health is a complete physical, mental, and social state, whereas, “disease is a symptom of disease.”

The World Health Organisation’s constitution was adopted in 1948 and states that “health is the absence of disease or disability”. The organization states that the definition of health is not only a physical condition, but also a social one. It also incorporates a person’s personality, lifestyle, and environment. The concept of health is also a way of life. The world health organization’s constitution defines health as the state of complete physical and mental well-being.

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. According to the World Health Organization, health is the absence of disease or injury. The WHO’s constitution defines it as “a state of complete physical and mental well-being.” A person’s health is a function of their life, not of a disease or a sickness.” The World Wide Web defines health as the state of being “the absence of symptoms of any mental or physical disorder”.