Definition of health and wellness
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Definitions of Health: Physical, Mental, Social, and Adaptive Aspects
Health is widely recognized as a multi-dimensional concept. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”159. This definition highlights that health is not just about not being sick, but about overall well-being in several areas of life. Some researchers have proposed more practical definitions, such as “the ability to adapt and self-manage” in the face of physical, mental, or social challenges12. This adaptive view sees health as a resource for everyday life, helping people respond to stress, illness, or changes in their environment.
Holistic and Multidimensional Nature of Health
Health is often described as holistic, meaning it includes physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual components38. A person is considered healthy when they can function well in all these areas and express their full potential within their environment. This holistic approach is important in both medical and community settings, as it recognizes the influence of social and environmental factors on health149.
Wellness: Integration, Process, and Lifestyle
Wellness is closely related to health but is a distinct concept. Wellness is generally understood as a holistic and multidimensional process that goes beyond health67. It involves the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of overall well-being67. Wellness is not a fixed state but a continuum, meaning people can move toward higher or lower levels of wellness throughout their lives. It is about integrating physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health into daily life and making conscious choices to improve these areas367.
Differentiating Health and Wellness
While health is often seen as a state or condition, wellness is more about the ongoing process of making healthy choices and striving for balance in all areas of life36. Wellness emphasizes personal responsibility, lifestyle behaviors, and the interconnection between a person and their environment67. High-level wellness is described as achieving a balance among the different components of health.
Wellbeing and Quality of Life
Wellbeing is another related term, often used to describe subjective happiness and life satisfaction. It is sometimes used interchangeably with wellness, but wellbeing focuses more on how people feel about their lives, while wellness is about the actions and processes that support health46.
Conclusion
In summary, health is a holistic, multi-dimensional state that includes physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being, and is often defined as the ability to adapt and self-manage. Wellness is the ongoing, active process of integrating these components through healthy lifestyle choices and behaviors, aiming for balance and improvement. Both concepts are closely linked, but wellness emphasizes personal action and the pursuit of optimal well-being across all areas of life1236+3 MORE.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic