The World Health Organization (2018) defines health as “the state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. A valid criticism of the WHO definition is in relation to the word “complete” in relation wellbeing, as this requirement would, by definition, identify most people as unhealthy a good portion of the time (Huber, Knottnerus, Green, Horst, Jadad, Kromhout, et al., 2011). Brüssow (2013) notes that research-oriented doctors feel that as the WHO definition is so widely formulated and cannot be easily measured, it has no operational value and that newer medical health definitions of health place more emphasize on the capacity to adapt to changing external and internal circumstances.
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (WHO, 1986) supports social, economic and environmental aspects of ‘health’. This document states that, in order to be considered as healthy, “an individual or group must be able to identify and to realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment”. I like this definition as health is portrayed in a positive manner and within this definition social and personal strengths as well as physical capacities are emphasized.
References:
Brüssow, H. (2013). What is health? Microbial Biotechnology, 6(4), 341–348. http://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.12063.
Huber, M., Knottnerus, J.A., Green, L., Horst H., Jadad, A., Kromhout, D., et al. (2011). How should we define health? BMJ 2011; 343: d4163, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d4163
World Health Organization (2018). Health Systems Strengthening Glossary. Retrieved from, http://www.who.int/healthsystems/hss_glossary/en/index5.html
World Health Organisation (WHO). (1986). Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion: First International Conference on Health Promotion Ottawa, 21 November 1986. Retrieved from https://www.healthpromotion.org.au/images/ottawa_charter_hp.pdf