Tag: Health models

In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) famously defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Yet, decades later, many continue to debate which is the best definition of health, questioning whether this aspirational ideal is practical or attainable for most people.

Over 500 years in the making, the dominant biomedical framework has historically focused heavily on the mechanics of the body. Grasping **what is the difference between the medical model and the disease model?** is essential for understanding the evolution and future of modern healthcare and patient care paradigms.

Dr. John W. Travis developed the illness-wellness continuum in 1972, challenging the view that health was simply the absence of illness. He presented the idea that wellness is a process, providing a powerful example of a health continuum that has guided professionals and individuals ever since.

The medical model of health is the dominant framework in modern Western medicine, with historical roots tracing back to the Age of Enlightenment. It defines health primarily as the absence of disease and focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of specific pathologies within the body.

According to the World Health Organization, health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease. This holistic perspective is just one of several frameworks used to explain **what are the 5 models of health and illness**, offering different lenses through which we can understand wellness, disease, and patient care.