How Do We Define Health?

Despite a multitude of definitions, the World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete well-being, i.e., the absence of disease or infirmity. Different people have used different definitions over the centuries. Here are some of the most common. Let us take a closer look at each. How do we define health? Read on to find out. This article will also discuss how to define health in a scientific way.

Health is defined as the total physical, mental, social, and economic well-being of a person or group. This includes the ability to function normally and cope with adverse events. It is also the capacity to maintain relationships and skills, and the capacity to handle stress and other factors that affect health. It is important to understand that achieving one state of health does not necessarily result in the attainment of another. That’s why it is important to understand the determinants of health.

While WHO defined health as “complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing,” this definition is outdated and counterproductive. Few people will ever reach the state of total wellbeing. It is also counterproductive, because it ignores the impact of chronic illness and disability, which are commonplace. Moreover, it contributes to overmedicalisation of our society. While this view of health is useful in some cases, it does not reflect the complexity of human beings and the interrelated components of life.