Final answer:
Health is defined by the WHO as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease. Maintaining health involves making informed decisions, considering various contributory factors. The concept of health has evolved to focus on wellness and optimal well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of health is comprehensive and multifaceted, going beyond the mere absence of illness. Health is characterized by a state of physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease or infirmity. This holistic view highlights the importance of an individual's ability to perform their expected social roles and achieve goals, encompassing a state of complete well-being.
To maintain health, individuals often engage in health decision-making analysis, which involves analyzing decisions that contribute to one's health choices. Factors contributing to health and illness include genetics, environment, lifestyle choices, and social circumstances. Illness, therefore, can be understood as both a biological abnormality (disease) and a sociocultural experience of health.
In recent years, the concept of wellness has evolved to emphasize optimal well-being and the potential for living a full life. This contemporary approach to health includes not just survival and reproduction, as emphasized in a biological context, but also the broader aspects of procuring necessities, avoiding dangers, and social functioning.