Health is an essential aspect of living a happy, fulfilling life. Having a strong body and mind can make it easier to manage stress, work productively, and connect with others. But sustaining mental and physical health isn’t always easy, and it requires careful attention to both diet and exercise.
The World Health Organization defines “health” as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Its constitution says that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every person.
However, the WHO definition has been criticised as too ambitious and absolute. Georges Canguilhem, for example, has argued that accounts of perfect health share features with traditional virtues, in that they describe human excellences. It also has a relative advantage over a more absolutist conceptualisation of health, in that it enables the pursuit of political purposes such as highlighting the extent to which people experience inequalities in health-related factors.
As you write about health, it’s important to consider who your readers are and what their needs are. Some of the factors that affect health are due to individual choices, such as whether to engage in risky activities or not. Other factors are due to structural causes, such as the availability of healthcare services or the way society is organised. In either case, a good understanding of health is essential for those who wish to write on this topic.
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