Health Definition Journal Article

What s the definition of health.

Health definition journal article. The first part of this formulation is enshrined in who s famous founding constitution adopted in 1946. When it was adopted tools to measure health did not exist. In 1948 the world health organization officially defined health as a state of complete physical mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity 1 the definition has remained unchanged for more than 60 years. A comprehensive definition of health should cover all aspects of life it would seem.

The who definition of health as complete wellbeing is no longer fit for purpose given the rise of chronic disease. According to the world health organization health is a state of complete physical mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity the apparent fullness of this definition carries a powerful intuitive appeal. The current definition of health formulated by the who is no longer adequate for dealing with the new challenges in health care systems. Their definition of health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity but a state of complete physical mental and social well being.

And nor is it merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The definition of health is not just a theoretical issue because it has many implications for practice policy and health services. A curious reader asks. Machteld huber and colleagues propose changing the emphasis towards the ability to adapt and self manage in the face of social physical and emotional challenges the current who definition of health formulated in 1948 describes health as a state of complete physical mental.

But this utopian vision is an unattainable ideal bearing no relation to the struggles. Health is not a state of complete physical mental and social well being. 2 indeed it was decades before a comprehensive set of tools to measure physical mental.