The generally accepted definition of health is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, used by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1948. [1][2]
In 1986, the WHO in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion said health is “a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities”. Classification systems such as the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC), which is composed of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) also define health.
Overall health is achieved through a combination of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.
