Wellness is a state of being in good health, both physically and mentally, and of being free of (and not at risk for) illness. To maintain wellness, individuals need to follow a regimen of periodic risk assessment and adopt behavior changes that lead to a lower risk of acquiring certain diseases. Wellness is the goal behind efforts at health promotion and disease prevention and includes physical fitness, optimal nutrition, and spiritual, social, and emotional health.

Wellness exists on a continuum ranging from disease and disability to optimal health (the illness/wellness continuum). The promotion of wellness is intended to encourage people to change their high-risk behaviors in order to enjoy a disease-free and fulfilling life. Prescribed changes in behavior can result in the development of an individual's full potential.

Simin B. Vaghefi