What is Health?

In 1948, the Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO), defined health as, “as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This definition stands current today, however it has been challenged over the years and consideration should be taken when using this definition for decision making and planning.

In researching current definitions of health, it seems that many suggestions have been brought forward but not formally accepted as the sole definition of health by the WHO. One such definition suggested by Sartorius (2006) is, “health is a state of balance, an equilibrium that an individual has established within himself and his social and physical environment.” This definition of health loosens the boundaries that are placed when using the WHO definition. The WHO definition uses completion as the measurement of health. Huber et al. (2011) discuss how the concept of complete health would mean that most of society is unhealthy most of the time. Should someone who has a chronic disease that is well managed and does not affect their quality of life not considered healthy? Within the WHO definition, it would be impossible for these individuals to reach a state of complete physical well-being. In the analysis by Huber et al. (2011) the authors state that the WHO definition, “minimizes the role of the human capacity to cope autonomously with life’s ever changing physical, emotional, and social challenges and to function with fulfilment and a feeling of wellbeing with a chronic disease or disability. The new definition suggested above uses the word equilibrium to overcome this challenge. Equilibrium can be defined as equal balance between any powers, influences etc. according to Dictionary.com (2018). A definition using the term equilibrium gives adaptability and fluidity to the concept of health. It better reflects the complexity of society today and builds a starting point for system review and transformation. This definition also encompasses the role an individual has in defining their own health. Individuals are responsible for outlining what healthy is for them and then contributing to maintaining the balance that has been agreed upon.

There are some limitations to using this type of definition. In the article by Sartorius (2006), it is stated that, “To establish whether someone is in good health in accordance with this definition, the doctor must explore how individuals who have a disease feel about it, how the disease influences their lives, how they propose to fight their disease or live with it.” Depending on the individual or even the community they live in, how they perceive their state of health could vary widely. This makes it hard to determine outcome measures and evaluate health amongst the populations. This in turn affects decisions about program development and resource allocation.

The answer to the question, “what is health?” remains largely unanswered for me. Health forme is a concept that is complex and difficult to generalize. Many definitions are appropriate when the context of its intended use is considered. This includes the WHO definition from many years ago.

References

Equilbrium. (n.d.). In Dictionary online. Retrieved from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/equilibrium

Huber Machteld, Knottnerus J André, Green Lawrence, Horst Henriëtte van der, Jadad Alejandro R, Kromhout Daan et al. How should we define health? BMJ 2011; 343 :d4163

Sartorius, N. (2006). The Meanings of Health and its Promotion. Croatian Medical Journal, 47(4), 662–664.