Beyond the Absence of Illness: What does health not include?

September 30, 2025 •

4 min read

In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as "not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". This foundational statement prompts a deeper investigation into what does health not include, moving beyond simplistic physical markers to embrace a more nuanced understanding of well-being.

Quick Summary

Health is a multifaceted concept that goes beyond simply lacking illness, encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being. It does not equate to perpetual happiness, superficial beauty, or solely physical fitness, but is a dynamic process of adapting and thriving despite life's challenges.

Key Points

Not Just the Absence of Disease: According to the WHO, health is a positive state of physical, mental, and social well-being, not simply the lack of illness or infirmity.
More Than Fitness: While physical fitness is a key component, health also includes mental and social well-being. A person can be physically fit but still unhealthy.
Doesn't Equal Happiness: Health is distinct from constant or perfect happiness. A healthy person can still experience a full range of emotions, including sadness.
Beyond Superficials: Concepts like physical beauty or wealth are not components of health. Health is an internal state of well-being, not an external ideal.
Not a Static State: Health is a dynamic process of adaptation and balance. It is not a fixed, unchanging state of perfection.
Doesn't Negate Disability: One can have a disability or chronic condition and still achieve a state of holistic health through effective management and adaptation.

The Myth of Health as the Perfect Absence of Disease

One of the most enduring misconceptions is defining health as the complete absence of illness. The WHO explicitly challenged this notion, arguing for a more holistic perspective. People can and do live with chronic conditions, disabilities, or physical limitations while still achieving a state of health. This state is not defined by perfection, but by a dynamic balance and adaptation to life's conditions. For example, an individual managing diabetes effectively through diet and medication can maintain a high quality of life, demonstrating robust health despite a pre-existing condition. This view recognizes that health exists on a continuum, not as a binary state of "sick" or "well".

Health is Not a Static State

Viewing health as a static, unchangeable state is misleading. Health is in constant flux, influenced by our environment, our genetics, our choices, and our social interactions. It involves continuous adaptation. A healthy person is not someone who never gets sick, but someone with the capacity to adapt and cope with stress, injury, and illness when they do occur. This adaptability is a key indicator of overall well-being, showcasing resilience rather than a false state of invulnerability.

Distinguishing Health from Superficial Concepts

Several external factors are often mistakenly conflated with health, though they are not components themselves.

Beauty: While a healthy lifestyle can contribute to a positive appearance, beauty is not a component of health. One can be considered beautiful by societal standards but be very unhealthy, and vice versa. Health is an internal state of well-being, while beauty is often a superficial, external judgment.

Wealth: While there is a strong link between wealth and better health outcomes (often due to improved access to care and resources), wealth itself is not a part of health. Financial stress can negatively impact health, and financial security can improve it, but wealth does not define a person's health status. A person with great wealth but poor lifestyle habits may be less healthy than a person of modest means who prioritizes their well-being.

Happiness: Health is not the same as perfect or constant happiness. While a state of good health can certainly promote feelings of contentment, health also allows for the full range of human emotions, including sadness and grief. A fixation on perpetual happiness can be misleading. A person with high overall well-being might still experience periods of sadness without being considered "unhealthy." A fulfilling life, which is a component of long-term well-being, has moments of struggle and vulnerability as necessary parts of the human experience.

Health Is Not a Guaranteed Outcome of Fitness

Another common error is equating physical fitness with overall health. While fitness is a vital component of physical health, it does not encompass the entire concept. Fitness refers to the ability to perform certain physical tasks, like having muscular strength, endurance, or flexibility. However, as illustrated by the recent increase in cardiovascular issues among seemingly fit athletes, fitness alone does not equal health. True health includes mental and social dimensions that may be overlooked in a single-minded pursuit of physical performance. A person can be physically fit but suffer from an eating disorder, mental illness, or severe stress, demonstrating that fitness and health are distinct concepts.

The Health-Fitness Discrepancy

Health is broader: It includes physical, mental, and social well-being, while fitness is confined to physical capacity.
Health is a resource: It's a resource for daily life, not the sole objective of living. Fitness is a tool used to improve health and perform tasks.
You can be fit, not healthy: A highly trained athlete pushing their body to its limits without proper rest or emotional care may be fit but not truly healthy.
You can be healthy, not fit: A person who is not a regular gym-goer might be perfectly healthy in all other aspects, including physical and mental, despite not having peak athletic ability.

Comparing Health Dimensions and Misconceptions


Aspect	What Health Is	What Health Is Not	Key Distinction
Physical State	Optimal functioning of the body, even with limitations.	Simply the absence of disease.	Health is about function and adaptability, not perfection.
Mental State	Emotional resilience, coping with stress, and a balanced psychological state.	Constant happiness or total freedom from sadness.	Mental well-being acknowledges the full spectrum of human emotions.
Social State	Meaningful connections, supportive relationships, and community engagement.	Being reclusive or ignoring others.	Isolation is unhealthy, while social engagement promotes well-being.
Determinants	Healthy lifestyle choices, exercise, diet, and sleep.	Solely dependent on genetic factors or luck.	While genetics play a role, lifestyle choices significantly impact health.
Goal	A dynamic process of well-being and adaptation.	A fixed destination or a state of perfection.	Health is a journey, not a static endpoint.
Fitness	A component of physical well-being.	The entirety of health itself.	One can be fit but not fully healthy due to other factors like mental stress.

Conclusion: A Holistic View of Well-being

To understand what health does not include is to gain a clearer picture of what it truly is. Health is not just a biological metric or a label of perfection. It is a holistic, multi-dimensional concept encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being, and is recognized as a resource for daily life rather than the objective of living. It does not include superficial concepts like beauty or a guaranteed state of happiness, nor is it synonymous with physical fitness. Rather, health is a dynamic state of balance and resilience, a testament to the body and mind's ability to adapt and thrive. By appreciating this broader definition, we can foster a more complete and realistic approach to our well-being. It is through this nuanced understanding that we can pursue true and lasting health, embracing our strengths and vulnerabilities in equal measure. For further exploration, the National Institutes of Health offers extensive resources on the various dimensions of wellness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily. According to the holistic view promoted by the WHO, health is not simply the absence of disease. An individual with a chronic illness can still achieve a state of good health by effectively managing their condition and cultivating strong mental and social well-being.

Yes. A person can have high physical fitness (e.g., strength or endurance) but may neglect other vital aspects of health, such as mental or emotional well-being. Over-training, stress, and eating disorders are examples of a disconnect between fitness and overall health.

No, happiness is not a direct measure of health. While a person in good health often experiences more happiness, health is a broader concept of physical, mental, and social well-being. A healthy life includes navigating challenges and negative emotions, and is not defined by constant joy.

Being wealthy does not automatically make you healthy, though it can provide resources that support a healthier lifestyle, such as better nutrition and healthcare access. However, wealth itself is not a component of health, and poor lifestyle choices can still lead to poor health outcomes regardless of financial status.

Health is often viewed as a state of being, while wellness is an active process of pursuing and maintaining that state. For example, getting regular exercise and practicing mindfulness are wellness activities that contribute to your overall health.

No, health is not a fixed state. It is a dynamic and adaptable process that fluctuates throughout life, influenced by genetics, environment, and personal choices. The ability to adapt and maintain balance is a key indicator of true health.

Building resilience involves strengthening the mental and emotional components of health. Practices like mindfulness, fostering strong social connections, and developing effective coping strategies help individuals manage stress and bounce back from adversity, thereby enhancing their overall health.