What Is Health?

According to the World Health Organization, health refers to a person’s physical, mental, and social well-being. While many people associate health with an absence of disease and infirmity, this is not entirely accurate. Patients who have diabetes are still considered to be healthy, while people with back pain are still considered to be in poor physical condition. This is because both conditions are treatable, although there is a difference between having a disease and being healthy.

According to the World Health Organization, health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Increasing the quality of life is a key goal of the health movement, but achieving it will require more than a policy or a health plan. It will be necessary to engage individuals in health-promoting activities and avoid unhealthy situations. Some of these factors are personal choices, while others are structural. This is because, without a clear definition of what “health” is, people will be less likely to take steps to improve their health.

The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of total physical and mental well-being.” Historically, health was viewed as the absence of disease. Today, the WHO recognizes that it is possible to promote a healthy lifestyle by encouraging and limiting unhealthful activities and situations. In addition, there are various structural and cultural factors that influence health, including dietary and lifestyle choices, environment, and exercise. In the United States, this definition is largely defined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, although it does not apply to the health of individual people.