Surya Namaskar on Fitness of Adolescent School Children

World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely absence of disease or infirmity" 1. But this definition is not unanimously accepted among the health workers and has been an issue of controversy. According to an editorial published in a leading journal, the definition given by WHO is very political and vague. They are of the notion that WHO fails to address many important aspects of life that constitute a healthy life, such as spirituality, health education, financial status, and happiness 2. The holistic definition of health is ought to include this constituent and provide the individual with the ability to manage physical, mental and social challenges throughout life 3. The meaning of health may differ depending upon their perception of social- well being. The perception differs from person to person and from one age group to another 4. It will mean different for a adult and may have other determinants in the case of adolescents and may in turn differ from that of the child's health.