The Definition of Health



Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.


      World Health Organization


Many people think that health is something you have when you're not sick or dying. That is, health is the absence of one of the five d's: death, disease, discomfort, disability, and dissatisfaction.

Whereas not being sick is one aspect of health, just as important is a person's sense of well-being. As such, health is a quality of life rather than the repair of malfunctioning body parts. According to health educator Jesse Williams, "Health is that condition of the individual that makes possible the highest enjoyment of life, the greatest constructive work, and that shows itself in the best service to the world...Health as freedom from disease is a standard of mediocrity; health as a quality of life is a standard of inspiration and increasing achievements."

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This definition recognizes that health is holistic, encompassing every aspect of personhood -- body, mind, and spirit -- as well as one's interactions with her or his social and physical environments. The WHO definition reflects the Old English root of the modern word "health," which is hal, meaning sound or wholeness.

The WHO definition sets well-being, or wellness, as a standard for health. Wellness is...

Health and wellness have six dimensions...
  1. physical...maintaining a healthy body by eating healthfully, exercising regularly and appropriately, avoiding harmful behaviors such as smoking cigarettes and consuming too much alcohol, and seeking medical care when necessary.
  2. emotional...understanding one's emotions, their relationships to one's thinking, and being able to cope with problems.
  3. intellectual...being willing to learn new things including how one's own thoughts affect one's health and well-being.
  4. social...contributing to a healthy community and society by being healthy oneself and fostering the health of others.
  5. environmental...striving to maintain a healthy, clean environment.
  6. spiritual...seeking a state of harmony within oneself and with all things in the universe.