What is Health?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".   

Current representations of what constitutes “health” are largely based on visual impressions of the “body beautiful”, which has been medicalised in terms of Body Mass Index (BMI). It is now recognised that BMI is not an appropriate marker of health. The Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) is an alternative clinical tool to assess health vs BMI. It divides individuals into four stages based on the presence and severity of lifestyle-related health complications. It takes metabolic, physical, and psychological factors into consideration when assessing the impact of obesity on an individual's overall health. It is a much better clinical tool to use vs BMI.

The LCWF program does not have goals that centre around achieving the ideal BMI or “body beautiful” Goals are instead focused around improving metabolic health, which is a key driving factor in lifestyle related diseases. When metabolic health is improved, other aspects of health improve, such as mental and emotional well-being, immune function, skin conditions, fertility, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension. The lifestyle changes implemented are effective means of preventing and treating lifestyle related conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases and a number of cancers.