Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is “the condition of being healthy and free from illness and disability”. A number of definitions have also been applied over the years for diverse purposes. The definition essentially implies that the health status is an important aspect of life, thus, every person should strive to achieve and maintain good health status. A number of aspects contribute to a person’s health, including lifestyle, diet, social environments, work and much more. Some other terms often used to specify health are morbidly obese, optimal health, total health and ideal health.

The National Health Service (NHS) defines health as “the quality of life achieved at the social, emotional, physical and psychological levels for an individual and his or her family”. This definition is generally recognized by most governmental agencies and bodies in the United Kingdom. This definition has also been adopted as a guideline by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Development (UPODA). In addition, the government of United States has also included mental health and psychosocial health as important components of the overall health system.

A wide variety of interventions is utilized in order to promote the overall wellness of a nation. One of the approaches involves devoting resources towards prevention and early detection of disease as well as providing treatment for incurable conditions. Public health strives to eliminate all health disparities through a comprehensive approach that takes in a comprehensive range of public health activities. An important element in this effort relates to identifying, monitoring and reducing all existing and potential preventable diseases and all their preventable consequences, while promoting health and nutrition. This approach addresses the complex interaction between public health, medical science and society at large.