Environmental strategies to promote health and wellness

摘要: States of health and wellness result from complex interactions between individuals and environments. Even definitions of the terms “health” and “wellness” are complex, and sometimes controversial. In 1946, the World Health Organization defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” 1 Although comprehensive, this definition has been controversial because it is not clear what “complete” means or how to establish and maintain these states.Although this definition was intended to apply to human beings, much of it seems relevant for the health and welfare of animals in our care. Health at least means absence of disease or infirmity and could include sufficient physical, mental, and social well-being to preclude suffering. In fact, animal welfare has been defined as “… how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. An …