CORE 1 Better Health for Individuals

Syllabus Content Meanings of Health Definitions of health Dimensions of health Relative and dynamic nature of health

MEANINGS OF HEALTH Health means different things to different people and this meaning may change over time depending on circumstances. In addition to the varied perspectives on health, meanings of health will discuss the 5 dimensions of health: Spiritual Social Physical Mental Emotional The 5 dimensions of health help you to understand that health has many varying factors and is influenced by things beyond our control Health is also relative and dynamic. Meanings of health requires you to think about how health can change with time and circumstance.

ACTIVITY Complete the following sentences: Good health to me means…………. The signs of being healthy are……………….. To lead a healthy lifestyle you need to……………. The thing I do that are good for my health……….. When I am healthy I feel………………… The unhealthy things I do include……………………. After completing the above, write your own definition of what health means to you.

DEFINITIONS OF HEALTH Definitions of health have changed over time. These changes have taken place as a result of an increased understanding of medicine, science, the physical environment, the social environment and their influence on people. Up until the middle of the 20th century, health was defined as the ‘absence of disease’. During this time communicable diseases were the most common cause of sickness and death. If you did not have a disease, you were considered ‘healthy’. In 1948 the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. This definition can be made even broader by recognising the impact of the spiritual and emotional dimensions of health. A holistic approach to health includes the physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of individuals.

DEFINITIONS OF HEALTH (continued) Holistic: taking a broad view that considers the whole range of relevant health factors

DEFINITIONS OF HEALTH (continued) ACTIVITY ‘Health is a state of physical, mental and social well being. It involves more than just the absence of disease or infirmity.’ WHO, 1948. Explain how this definition incorporates a holistic approach to health. (8 lines) Outline the limitations, plus propose some changes to the WHO definition in order to improve it. (10 lines)