Today's Word 👉 Wellness

Wellness (noun): "Wellness is functioning optimally within your current environment."

— National Wellness Institute

Ask ten people what "wellness" means, and you'll get ten different answers.

This was supported by a systematic review of wellness structures in 2023. Researchers at the University of Helsinki analyzed 44 wellness models and found 379 different domains—with no consensus on what wellness actually includes.

That's not an accident. The wellness industry profits from this vagueness.

Without a clear definition, anything can be marketed as wellness.

THE BEST FRAMEWORK WE FOUND

SAMHSA defines wellness across eight dimensions. The model was developed by Dr. Margaret Swarbrick beginning in 1997 and validated in 2024.

WHY IT MATTERS

Most wellness content focuses on physical health. But the dimensions are interconnected, and the research is striking:

• Social isolation increases mortality risk by 50%, comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes daily (read more)

• Financial stress predicts worse physical and mental health independent of income level (read more)

• Lack of purpose predicts higher all-cause mortality in adults over 50 (read more)

The dimensions that matter most for longevity—social connection, financial security, and purpose—are often the hardest to monetize.

That’s why the wellness industry sells what's easy to package: supplements, apps, devices.

The skill isn't buying the right product. It's knowing which wellness dimension to work on.

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

Brian S. Dye, Ed.D., is the founder of Wellness Literacy Co., an evidence-based wellness education platform which helps people access, understand, and apply evidence-based wellness information.

A WORD FROM OUR EDITOR

Brian’s article last week about information literacy was one of our highest rated Slightly Smarter emails ever. Thanks to everyone who gave us feedback!

Brian has agreed to create a limited series for us, where every week he puts a spotlight on a different aspect of wellness.

Next week 👉 Physical Wellness

Thanks for reading,

— Scott Johnson, co-founder of Slightly Smarter