What is the best measure of health? Unpacking the holistic approach

October 1, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the World Health Organization, health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease. This means that to understand what is the best measure of health, one must look beyond a single metric and adopt a much more comprehensive view of human well-being.

Quick Summary

The single best measure of health does not exist, as true well-being is multifaceted. A comprehensive assessment requires integrating objective metrics like blood pressure and cholesterol with subjective indicators such as mental well-being, social connections, and lifestyle habits.

Key Points

Holistic View: True health is defined as complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease.
Multifaceted Assessment: The best measure of health combines objective data (like blood pressure and cholesterol) with subjective indicators (like reported energy and mood).
Beyond BMI: Simple metrics like BMI have limitations and should be supplemented with other measures like body composition and VO2 max for a more accurate picture of physical health.
Mental and Social Factors are Key: A person's mental health, quality of sleep, and social support network are as critical to their overall health as their physical fitness.
Personalized Dashboard: The most effective way to measure your health is to create a personal dashboard that tracks and balances multiple indicators relevant to your specific lifestyle and goals.
Subjective Data Informs Care: While objective data guides clinical decisions, subjective patient experiences are crucial for tailoring treatment plans to an individual's unique needs and situation.

For centuries, the medical community has relied on objective, quantitative measures to define health. Blood tests, vital signs, and body mass index (BMI) have provided quantifiable data to diagnose and treat diseases. However, a growing understanding of the mind-body connection and the influence of social factors reveals that this traditional approach provides only a partial picture. The modern consensus is that general health is a holistic concept that includes physical, mental, and social dimensions, and its measurement must reflect this complexity.

The Limitations of Single Metrics

While easy to measure and track, relying on a single number can be misleading. For instance, BMI, a ratio of weight to height, was established to assess population-level health trends but has significant limitations at the individual level. It fails to account for muscle mass, age, or body composition, meaning a very fit, muscular person could be classified as 'overweight'. Similarly, while blood pressure and cholesterol are critical indicators, they don't capture an individual's overall vitality, quality of life, or resilience to stress. True health is more than just the absence of disease; it's the presence of complete well-being.

Physical and Physiological Metrics

Objective health measures still form the foundation of any comprehensive assessment. These quantifiable markers offer tangible insights into the body's functioning and risk for chronic disease. Some key metrics include:

Blood Pressure: A reading of the force of blood against your artery walls. Maintaining a healthy reading (typically below 120/80 mmHg) is crucial for preventing heart disease and stroke.
Cholesterol Levels: The balance of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good" cholesterol) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) indicates cardiovascular risk.
Blood Sugar: Fasting blood sugar tests measure glucose levels and help assess the risk for type 2 diabetes.
VO2 Max: This metric measures the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise, providing a powerful indicator of overall fitness and predicting longevity.
Body Composition: Going beyond BMI, assessing body fat percentage and muscle mass offers a more accurate view of physical health.
Resting Heart Rate: A lower resting heart rate often indicates stronger cardiovascular health and greater fitness.

The Subjective Side: Your Lived Experience

Subjective indicators, based on a person's feelings and perceptions, provide essential context that objective data misses. These qualitative measures are gathered through questionnaires and self-reported accounts and are crucial for understanding an individual's unique state of health.

Mental Well-being: This encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress significantly impact overall health and well-being.
Sleep Quality: The duration and quality of sleep are vital for both physical recovery and mental restoration.
Energy Levels: Self-reported energy levels can indicate underlying issues like nutritional deficiencies, stress, or sleep problems.
Social and Emotional Health: Strong social connections and a sense of purpose are instrumental to holistic health. Indicators include community engagement, civic participation, and access to supportive relationships.
Quality of Life: Often assessed through patient-reported outcomes, this measures how health status affects a person's daily life, happiness, and satisfaction.

A Comparison of Health Measurement Approaches


Feature	Objective/Quantitative Measures	Subjective/Qualitative Measures
Data Type	Numerical, fact-based (e.g., blood pressure, lab results)	Perceptual, experience-based (e.g., pain, happiness)
Collection Method	Physical examinations, lab tests, diagnostic scans	Questionnaires, patient interviews, self-reports
Role	Provides concrete evidence, guides clinical decisions	Gives vital context, informs personalized care
Examples	Blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, VO2 max	Energy levels, sleep quality, pain scales, mood reports
Limitations	Can be misleading or incomplete; overlooks personal experience	Can be inconsistent or difficult to verify objectively
Strengths	Accurate, repeatable, and standardized for population data	Captures the patient's unique experience, builds trust

Embracing a Comprehensive Approach

The movement toward holistic healthcare acknowledges that an individual's total well-being is a complex interplay of physical, mental, and social components. A comprehensive health assessment integrates both objective metrics and subjective feedback to create a complete picture. For example, a person with ideal blood pressure and cholesterol might report high stress and anxiety, which could increase their risk for future health problems. Addressing the mental health component is just as vital as monitoring the physical data.

The social determinants of health (SDOH), which are the conditions in the environments where people live, also play a huge role. Factors such as economic stability, neighborhood and built environment, and access to nutritious foods and healthcare significantly impact health outcomes. A doctor looking at a patient's health should consider not only their lab results but also their living situation, social support network, and daily behaviors. This multi-faceted approach allows healthcare professionals to develop more tailored and effective care plans. By considering the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—true well-being can be nurtured and improved.

Conclusion: Your Personal Health Dashboard

Ultimately, what is the best measure of health? There isn't one. The most effective approach is to create a personal health dashboard that synthesizes information from all key areas. This means paying attention to objective data like blood work and fitness levels, while also tuning into subjective feelings about energy, stress, and happiness. Your health is a dynamic, ever-changing state influenced by lifestyle choices, environment, and genetics. By tracking and understanding this combination of metrics, you and your healthcare provider can build a complete, personalized view of your overall well-being, moving beyond a simple number to a richer, more meaningful assessment of health. For further reading, the World Health Organization provides valuable resources on the broad definition of health and wellness.

World Health Organization - Mental Health

Frequently Asked Questions

BMI, which uses a ratio of weight to height, is limited because it doesn't account for muscle mass, body composition, age, or sex. A very fit person with high muscle mass might have a high BMI but be in excellent health.

Objective data is numerical and measurable, like blood pressure or heart rate, and can be verified by anyone. Subjective data is a person's experience, feelings, or perceptions, such as pain levels or mood, and is reported by the individual.

Mental health, which includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being, is a core component of overall health. Poor mental health, stress, and anxiety can negatively impact physical health, increasing the risk of chronic conditions.

Yes, strong social connections and support networks are considered social determinants of health and are crucial for overall well-being. Isolation and lack of community context can have negative impacts on health outcomes.

Physical activity is a key indicator, with a high fitness level (measurable by metrics like VO2 max) strongly associated with longevity and a lower risk of chronic diseases. Even moderate activity has significant health benefits.

Sleep quality and duration are essential for both physical and mental restoration. Tracking sleep patterns helps assess recovery, energy levels, and overall well-being, with most adults needing 7 to 9 hours per night.

To get a more complete picture, you should combine standard objective tests (bloodwork, blood pressure) with an assessment of subjective factors like your mental state, sleep habits, social connections, and daily energy levels.