The Definition of Health

Despite the importance of prevention, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, free from any ailment or disease. According to the 2017 Massachusetts StateHealth Assessment, the presence of disease is responsible for only 15% of overall health, while genetics and health care make up the other 80%. However, the lack of proper education, health care, and access to healthy food are also significant factors in poor health. These are referred to as social determinants of public health, which affect the health of individuals and communities. Those who have money and power tend to have a positive attitude towards these issues, but this doesn’t mean that they are without problems.

The World Health Organisation defines health as the absence of disease, which is consistent with a biopsychosocial model of health. The concept of health emphasizes physiological, psychological, and social factors and their interplay. A traditional medical model of the concept of “health” focuses on the presence of illness and clinical diagnosis and intervention. The WHO definition of health aims to make the term more inclusive and relevant, and links it with human wellbeing. It advocates for greater understanding of the term “well-being” and the importance of the term.

The World Health Organization has revised its definition of health. Historically, health was defined as the absence of disease. Today, the WHO deems an individual healthy if the medical profession declares him or her to be so. In this context, feelings and observations about a person’s behavior are not important, unless they match the criteria of the medical profession. The definition of health is often based on scientific research and observation. The idea of a “good” health is one of the most common misconceptions among the general public.

The WHO defines health as the total wellbeing of an individual. This definition of health is unrealistic. Statistically, few people can maintain a high level of well-being all the time, and is often counterproductive. It fails to take into account the many chronic illnesses and disabilities and contributes to an over-medicalisation of society. As a result, health is a personal, rather than a social concept. If we wish to promote health, we must understand the factors that influence it.

The World Health Organisation’s report on health promotion states that the term “health” is a “positive concept” with the capacity to satisfy needs. The concept of a ‘completely healthy’ person can only have one condition. This is impossible to achieve, and it doesn’t exist. This is the main reason why health is a positive attribute. The ability to control and change our environment are essential to a healthy life. But we can’t achieve health by being fully well.

The medical model of health defines health as the absence of disease, but there is another definition of the term. The medical model of health is a very narrow view of it, and it excludes the social and psychological factors that influence it. Its ‘completely healthy’ concept is too broad, and it doesn’t even consider the social aspects of a person’s life. For example, the financial health of an individual is a factor in health.