What term describes an overall state of well-being or total health?

The term that describes an overall state of well-being or total health is wellness. Wellness encompasses not just the absence of disease, but also a holistic approach to various aspects of health, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It reflects a positive state of being where individuals actively engage in promoting their health and improve their quality of life.

While health promotion is a related concept focusing on strategies and activities aimed at improving health and preventing illness, it does not itself define the state of well-being. Illness indicates a state of being unwell and contrasts with both wellness and health promotion, which aim to enhance well-being. Recovery refers specifically to the process of returning to a state of health after an illness or injury, highlighting the journey rather than the overall state of being. Thus, wellness is the most comprehensive term that captures the essence of total health and well-being.