Are you in good health? At first glance that might seem like a simple question, but what is health? How do we define it? Do individuals have a different definition than society?
In 1948 the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1948). The WHO has not made any adaptions to this definition since its creation more than 60 years ago. Oleribe et al (2018) highlight the criticism of this stagnant definition, which many identify as being both too narrow in focus and misguided in its quest for “a state of complete”. There is appreciation for the comprehensiveness of including not only the physical well-being, but also placing value in the mental and social well-being within this definition (Oleribe et al, 2018). As previously stated, one of the most highly criticized aspects of this definition is the focus on having or needing a status of completion. This suggests that a person living with a well-managed chronic illness will never obtain a status of good health. Is this true? Would an individual with controlled hypertension consider themselves to be unhealthy? Does having a disability make a person unhealthy? This definition does seem to be too limited to be obtained and sustained in today's society. Many people manage chronic physical and mental illness successfully with the continued development and discovery of medical and therapeutic advancements/technology. A more modern definition focuses on an individual’s “fullness of life” and recognizes that health is both complex and dynamic, often coexisting with disease (Bradley, Goetz, & Viswanathan, 2018).
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986) defines health as “a positive concept that emphasizes social resources as well as physical capacities”. This definition suggests that health is not only a result of the individual’s circumstance, but also attained due in part to the community and the resources provided (Oleribe et al, 2018). I like this definition as it emphasizes health as a concept rather than a state. To me, this nuance puts an emphasis on the suggestion that health as an idea, rather than a condition. Does a person have to be defined as healthy or unhealthy? I think it is difficult to have a single ‘one size fits all’ definition of health. Instead I see health as being more dynamic and complex, perceived by the individual at their level.
References
Bradley, K., Goetz, T., and Viswanathan, S. (2018). Toward a Contemporary Definition of Health. Military Medicine , 183, 204-207. Retrieved on February 8, 2019, from https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/183/suppl_3/204/5194600
Oleribe, O. O., Ukwedeh, O., Burstow, N. J., Gomaa, A. I., Sonderup, M. W., Cook, N., Waked, I., Spearman, W., … Taylor-Robinson, S. D. (2018). Health: redefined. The Pan African medical journal, 30, 292. doi:10.11604/pamj.2018.30.292.15436
Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986) Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/health-promotion/population-health/ottawa-charter-health-promotion-international-conference-on-health-promotion/charter.pdf
WHO (1948). Preamble to the constitution of the world health organization as adopted by the international health conference. New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.
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