STAT

Opinion: It’s time to change the definition of ‘health’

Rather than pursuing the "absence" of disease, we need a more inclusive definition of health — one that works for more people.

Meet Betty, a typical aging American. At 82, she spends almost as much time with her doctors as she does with her grandchildren. She has to. She takes seven prescription medications to treat her high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and arthritis. Ten years ago, she was treated for breast cancer.

Is Betty healthy? According to her, “Absolutely!” She enjoys her spacious apartment, two cats, close friends, and 50-gallon fish tank.

But according to the World Health Organization, Betty is mistaken. as a state of “complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from STAT

STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About Abortion Pill Arguments, A Merck Drug Approval, And More
U.S. Supreme Court justices focused on plaintiffs' right to sue the FDA to reinstate restrictions on a commonly used abortion pill, suggesting they are unlikely to restrict access.
STAT1 min read
STAT+: New Gene Therapy, To Be Priced At $4.25 Million, Has Already Transformed Children’s Lives
The world's most expensive treatment offers a near-cure for young children and redemption for its developer, but steep challenges still loom.
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About CAR-T Drugs For Myeloma, CVS Rebate Credits, And More
A FDA panel voted in favor of expanding use of CAR-T therapy in multiple myeloma, despite concerns about side effects.

Related Books & Audiobooks