What is the difference between health and wellness?

Are health and wellness the same thing?

Each one of these two words has a unique definition that has evolved throughout history.

According to the World Health Organization is the “state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

While whole-person or holistic health is the goal, health is often achieved by breaking down the areas that need attention and taking steps to address each area, from heart health to gut health.

The actions that one would take to improve either of those areas of health might start with many of the same things, such as aiming to lose weight, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol by limiting processed foods, eating more nutrient-dense foods, prioritizing sleep, managing stress, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and much more.

Wellness, on the other hand, is the dynamic process of living a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness encompasses the many areas of our lives that impact our health and well-being, not just our nutrition and physical activity! It includes paying attention to our career, dreams, education, finances, health, the food we eat, the place we live, joy in doing things, physical activity, relationships, social life, and spirituality.

So, health is just a part – an important one – of wellness. Living a fulfilling life is much more than the absence of illness.

Have you ever thought about that? How are the other areas in your life?

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