Definitions of health
Health
'Health is a state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity' (World Health Organisation, 1946, cited in Tones and Tilford 2001 p2).
WHO definition
To develop your critical thinking and help you recognise different perspectives
This should take approximately 10 minutes
1 Identify one advantage of the WHO (1946) definition of health
2 Identify one disadvantage of the WHO (1946) definition of health
Click here for suggested answers
Other definitions listed below show that ideas about health have developed since the WHO definition.
"Health can be bought by investing in private health care, sold via health food shops, given by drugs or surgery, and lost by accidents or disease."
(Aggleton, 1994, cited in Lucas & Lloyd, 2005, p:7)
"Health is about achieving personal potential."
(Lucas & Lloyd, 2005, p:7)
"Individuals have a reserve of well-being, individually determined by constitution & temperament as well as a positive state of equilibrium."
(Herzlich, cited in Lucas & Lloyd, 2005, p:7).
Reflect on these definitions. Consider how they link to your views.
These definitions help us to realise that our view of health is very personal. These are academic definitions. It might be useful to ask the general public what their definition of heath is.
Tones and Tilford (2001) suggest that most people recognise that health has positive and negative aspects and that the general public value the positive notion of wellness as opposed to the absence of disease.
Blaxter (1995) surveyed a large number of people and found that health for them was:
- Not being ill
- Having the reserves to cope
- Healthy behaviour
- Physical fitness
- Having energy
- Having social relationships
- Being able to function
- Psycho social well being