In the ongoing discussion about health care, it is not often discussed what exactly we mean by health. Specifically, what does it mean to have good health? There are many definitions for what health is, so let’s explore a few and discuss what they mean to us.

There are some definitions that follow the “medical model,” meaning they view the body as a machine that needs to be fixed when it is broken. In this model, health is often defined as the absence of disease and presence of high levels of function. Traditionally, in the medical model, medical professionals and researchers measure health by looking at rates of disease and deaths due to those diseases. This information can be then used to describe whether or not a certain community or population is healthy, meaning if all members of a community are healthy, then that community would be healthy.

Health as more than the medical model

It became apparent to many in the mid 1900s that health was much more than the functioning of the physical body.

Based on this new holistic perspective, the World Health Organization defines health as: “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This definition was adopted by the WHO at the International Health Conference in 1946.

In 1986, the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion launched five areas for promotion of health: building healthy public policy, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills, and re-orientating health care services toward prevention of illness and promotion of health. The definition established by the Charter stated that health is “the extent to which an individual or group is able to realize aspirations and satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment. Health is a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living; it is a positive concept, emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities.”

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines health as the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit, especially freedom from physical disease or pain.

Health and wellness

In recent years, the definition of “wellness” has come to be separate from “health,” as health is often seen as a state an individual or community is in a given time, and wellness has an element of action. Two popular definitions of wellness are:

• Wellness is an active process of becoming aware and making choices toward a more successful existence. Wellness is multidimensional and traditionally includes six dimensions: social, occupational/environmental, physical, spiritual, intellectual and emotional. (National Wellness Institute)

• Wellness is an active, lifelong process of becoming more aware of choices and making decisions toward a more balanced and fulfilling life. Wellness involves choices about our lives and our priorities that determine our lifestyles. (Popularized by Arizona State University and since adopted by many others).

So what does this all mean?

We here at The People’s Clinic project agree with the perspectives that state health and wellness are concepts that have many dimensions and can be affected by many different factors. Everything about an individual’s life can and does influence their health and wellness everyday, and unfortunately, factors are on individual, community, and societal levels can often negatively affect our health.

This means that, in addition to educating ourselves and making positive choices that help us attain healthy lifestyles, we all need to take action in our communities that address those things that prevent us from being healthy. Each of us has a responsibility to work to make ourselves, our families, and our communities healthy and well. 

Contributed by Sarah Langdon

Do you need further information or have questions or comments about this article? Please call toll-free 1-877-530-1824. Or, visit the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity website: www.wfubmc.edu/minorityhealth.

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