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WHO Definition of Health

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Discuss whether the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" is still relevant. In what ways is it flawed? Describe at least one influence on health care policy that may contribute to the perception of health.
Please provide some sources for further investigation into the topic.

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This solution discuses whether the World Health Organization's definition of health is still applicable today and highlights some of the flaws in it.

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Discuss whether the definition of health, as identified in 1948 by the World Health Organization (WHO), is still applicable today.

This is the WHO definition from 1948: Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

There are several problems with this definition. "Well-being" is subjective. For example, pain for a sedentary individual may be a signal that something is wrong. And the cure (in order to get to a state of "well-being") may be narcotics. For an athlete, on the other hand, pain may signal that he or she has accomplished certain goals ("no pain, no gain") and is an indication of success ...

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