Like yoga, zumba and acai berries, entire industries have been built around the latest ‘buzz’ word. Otherwise referred to as wellness, the wholesome concept behind wellbeing suggests health is more than simply the absence of sickness. So is well-being just another new-age trend, or could this be the solution to the exorbitant health costs induced by chronic lifestyle disease?
In 1946 the World Health Organisation (WHO) defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. This definition lay dormant until the mid-90’s, when lifestyle diseases exploded onto the health radar at exponential rates. The status quo of treating sickness instead of preventing it was challenged by the burgeoning wellbeing market. By defining health as a mere absence of acute illness, we had justified inflated levels of obesity, a frenzy of mental health issues and a deepening dependence on drugs; both legal and illicit.
Wellbeing requires attention to prevention as well as screening without symptoms. The diet and fitness industries have capitalised on the wellbeing industry by promoting the importance of healthy eating and exercise in preventing lifestyle disease. Unfortunately, the solution is not so simple. While food and movement are crucial to wellbeing, they are but a few pieces of a large puzzle. Managing stress and sleep levels are of equal importance to overall wellbeing while genetic and cancer screenings are equally vital.
The net extends even beyond these parameters, as recent studies suggest community and spirituality are strongly connected to wellbeing. As the industry matures, the wholistic nature of wellbeing and its application across environments is becoming more apparent. Wellbeing is now an umbrella term encompassing everything from meditation to mammograms. It is therefore unsurprising to note the rapid development of wellbeing providers in the workplace. When staff is the core asset to the productivity of a company, employers are wising up to the numerous benefits of wellness at work.
Contact the team at Cultivate for more information how your workplace can move beyond the buzz...