What Is Health?
Health is a complex topic with many factors that influence an individual’s well-being. Some people think health is only about the absence of disease and impairment, while others see it as a combination of factors that enable an individual to function as part of society, gain meaning in their lives, and adapt to their life circumstances. Regardless of the definition one chooses, most agree that health is a matter of choice and is affected by both social and personal factors.
The 1948 World Health Organization definition of health identifies a holistic concept that encompasses an individual’s experience of positive and negative influences on their state of being. This definition has since been criticized for not focusing on the causes of health and for excluding social and psychological aspects of health. Attempts to improve upon the 1948 definition have included including mental health and an emphasis on the social determinants of health.
Some definitions of health focus on an individual’s experience, such as that offered by Last (see table). This focuses on the experiential aspect of health and acknowledges the interplay between an individual’s experiences and their state of being. This approach could be at risk of overlooking the fact that some people are not in good health despite being free from diseases or disabilities and that there is a need for efforts to remove those barriers.
Other definitions of health focus on the capacities that individuals have to participate and function, such as those proposed by the WHO. This approach can be at risk of reducing health to an instrumental end, such as a resource for economic development or as a way to meet basic needs, and neglecting the importance of the social dimension of health.
Still other definitions of health are based on the outcomes or experiences that people have, such as those offered by the WHO (see table). This can be at risk of not recognising the multidimensional nature of health and can lead to attempts to reduce differences in outcome between social groups through measures that do not necessarily affect the underlying causes.
When writing health articles, it is important to consider who the audience is and what their goals are. This can help to shape the idea you start with. For example, whether the article will be a short news story, an in-depth feature about a medical breakthrough, or a profile of a researcher looking at a specific treatment. Knowing who the audience is can also help you decide how much science or more of an engaging narrative you want to include. This can make or break the interest of your readership. If you can keep your audience engaged, the rest of the process should go smoothly. The most successful health articles are those that are helpful to readers in some way, whether by providing information on a new medical discovery, helping them understand their symptoms and what is normal versus worrying, or showing how to maintain their health.
Health is a complex topic with many factors that influence an individual’s well-being. Some people think health is only about the absence of disease and impairment, while others see it as a combination of factors that enable an individual to function as part of society, gain meaning in their lives, and adapt to their life circumstances. Regardless of the definition one chooses, most agree that health is a matter of choice and is affected by both social and personal factors. The 1948 World Health Organization definition of health identifies a holistic concept that encompasses an individual’s experience of positive and negative influences on their state of being. This definition has since been criticized for not focusing on the causes of health and for excluding social and psychological aspects of health. Attempts to improve upon the 1948 definition have included including mental health and an emphasis on the social determinants of health. Some definitions of health focus on an individual’s experience, such as that offered by Last (see table). This focuses on the experiential aspect of health and acknowledges the interplay between an individual’s experiences and their state of being. This approach could be at risk of overlooking the fact that some people are not in good health despite being free from diseases or disabilities and that there is a need for efforts to remove those barriers. Other definitions of health focus on the capacities that individuals have to participate and function, such as those proposed by the WHO. This approach can be at risk of reducing health to an instrumental end, such as a resource for economic development or as a way to meet basic needs, and neglecting the importance of the social dimension of health. Still other definitions of health are based on the outcomes or experiences that people have, such as those offered by the WHO (see table). This can be at risk of not recognising the multidimensional nature of health and can lead to attempts to reduce differences in outcome between social groups through measures that do not necessarily affect the underlying causes. When writing health articles, it is important to consider who the audience is and what their goals are. This can help to shape the idea you start with. For example, whether the article will be a short news story, an in-depth feature about a medical breakthrough, or a profile of a researcher looking at a specific treatment. Knowing who the audience is can also help you decide how much science or more of an engaging narrative you want to include. This can make or break the interest of your readership. If you can keep your audience engaged, the rest of the process should go smoothly. The most successful health articles are those that are helpful to readers in some way, whether by providing information on a new medical discovery, helping them understand their symptoms and what is normal versus worrying, or showing how to maintain their health.