When you think of the word “health”, do you think about nutrition; exercising, weight and being fit; age; income; mental health; socialization, spirituality, sickness? These are some of the circumstances that come to mind when I think of health. The word” health” can mean so many different things to so many different people depending on their own circumstances, and the conditions they face. What other words or conditions come to mind when you think of the word “health”?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defined “health” in 1948 as, “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 2018). This definition is still used today however it is highly outdated as circumstances have changed since its development. Factors at the population and individual level; environmental factors; economic factors; demographic factors, knowledge of diseases and many more conditions have changed and evolved since 1948. Huber (2011) indicates that, “as populations age and the pattern of illnesses change the definition may even be counterproductive”. When analyzing the WHO’s definition of health, Huber (2011) focused on the word “complete” and its meaning within this context, “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being…” (WHO, 2018), as the word complete means “having all necessary parts, elements, or steps” (Merriam-Webster, 2018), it was expressed that “the requirement for complete health would leave most of us unhealthy most of the time” (Huber, 2011). Using the word “complete” in the definition of health makes it impracticable as this word is not operational or measurable (Huber, 2011).
The video above is from the Alberta Health Services, and addresses what kids in Alberta think health and wellness is, how one can be healthy (by what they eat), and what happens when you are unhealthy. I thought this video portrayed the demographic factors of what health is to younger children (Your Voice: What does Health Mean to You”, 2013).
In developing a more modernized definition of health, Godlee (2011), indicated the proposed definition to be “the ability to adapt and self-mange in the face of social, physical and emotional challenges”, this too was expressed by Huber (2011). This definition is key as being able to adapt, cope and build resiliency towards the physical, social and emotional factors one faces, it puts the individual in an authoritative position of self-determining his or her own health needs (“What is Health: The Ability to Adapt”).
In the blog post titled “What is Health” by Chris Kresser, he expressed the idea that health is, “the ability to live your dreams” (Kresser, 2015). This definition focuses on quality of life and a way for one to be in the world regardless of one’s circumstances rather than referring to the absence of pain, discomfort or disease (Kresser, 2015).
The definition of health needs to be evolved to reflect the current needs of today and the wide spectrum of conditions in the world. However, like I said, health can mean so many different things to so many different people based on their circumstances, therefore having a specific definition may not encompass the different aspects that are derived from the term. Nevertheless incorporating adaptability, quality of life, self-awareness and self-management in the concept of health allows for an individualized approach for one to determine their own health.
What other conditions/circumstances should be associated with and incorporated in the definition of health?
Reference:
C Kresser, (2015, November 3). What is Health? Retrieved from https://chriskresser.com/what-is-health/
“Complete”. (2018). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complete
Godlee. F. (2011). What is Health? British Medical Journal, 343. Retrieved from www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d4817
Huber, M. (2011). Health: How Should We Define It? British Medical Journal, 343 (7817), 235-237. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23051314
“What is Health: The Ability to Adapt.” (2009). The Lancet, 373 (9666); 781. Retrieved from http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673609604566/fulltext
World Health Organization. (2018).
“Your Voice: What does Health Mean to You”. (2013). [Video file]. Alberta Health Services. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUsea3JV7Vk
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