Letters
How should we define health?
Proposal for new definition of health
BMJ 2011; 343 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d5359 (Published 23 August 2011) Cite this as: BMJ 2011;343:d5359
- Trevor Shilton, vice president for advocacy1,
- Michael Sparks, president2,
- David McQueen, past president2,
- Marie-Claude Lamarre, executive director2,
- Suzanne Jackson, board member2
- On behalf of the executive committee of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education—IUHPE
- 1International Union for Health Promotion and Education, Duncraig, 6023, WA, Australia
- 2International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), 93203 Saint-Denis, Cedex, France
- trevor.shilton{at}heartfoundation.org.au
Huber and colleagues rightly challenge the validity, in the 21st century, of the World Health Organization’s definition of health.1
Adaptation and self management are important qualities, but a contemporary definition should include health being a human right protected by certain entitlements and a resource for life that is affected by social, political, economic, and environmental factors.2 …
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