We often highlight how the global wellness economy is valued at £3.84tn, according to the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), yet not everyone has the resources, motivation, knowledge or enabling environment to actively pursue wellness. That’s why the GWI released it’s Defining Wellness Policy report at the Global Wellness Summit in Tel Aviv in early November, providing a framework for businesses and governments to make a healthy lifestyle fully accessible for everyone.

In the 40-plus pages, the report gives an analysis of the relationship between wellness spending, happiness and health outcomes across countries for the first time ever. It notes New Zealand, Iceland and Scotland as prime examples of encouraging healthy lifestyles and creating supportive environments, detailing to operators and the government why the wellness policy is essential for public health and wellbeing and the steps it can take on meso and macro-levels.

“The active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health”

As a backdrop to the report, GWI draws on its previous research, defining wellness as “the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health”. It’s not passive, people intentionally seek it. With this, the report identifies seven domains to reshape – but not replace – existing health, happiness and wellbeing policies. These are: wellness in the built environment; wellness at work; wellness in tourism; healthy eating; physical activity; mental wellness; and traditional and complementary medicine.

Read and download the report for free here.

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DEFINING WELLNESS POLICY

Why this report?

Since its inception, GWI has embraced the vision of “empowering wellness worldwide.” Even as we study and advocate for the $4.4 trillion wellness economy, we also recognize that the private wellness market and consumer action alone cannot bring about wellness for all. Not everyone has the resources, motivation, knowledge, or enabling environment to do so. Public policy is essential to fill these gaps. This realisation is the genesis of this report and the forthcoming GWI Wellness Policy Series.

What is in this report?

This is the first-ever study to define wellness policy and argue for why it is needed. Using GWI’s wellness economy data, the report provides, for the first time, a quantitative analysis showing the positive relationship between wellness spending, happiness, and health outcomes across countries. It makes a compelling case for why wellness policy is essential not only for governments, but also for businesses. The report situates wellness policy in the context of several major global movements that have been working toward improved human health and well-being. It articulates how wellness policy can complement public health and health policy, as well as support the happiness/wellbeing policy efforts that are gathering steam in different parts of the world.

Who is this report for?

If you are a government leader, this report will make the case for why wellness policy is crucial for your citizens’ health and wellbeing (whether your country is ready to reorient national priorities toward well-being or not). If you are a policymaker or public servant, this report will provide ideas on how you can advance the cause of wellness, working within existing policy siloes, departments and funding structures. If you are a private business or non-profit, this report shows why you should care about wellness policy, become an advocate and partner with governments and communities. If you are a concerned citizen or community member seeking to advocate for wellness, this study provides the framework and compelling evidence to make your case.

What next?

This report sets the stage for a series of Wellness Policy Toolkits, to be released by GWI in 2023. The toolkits will address seven domains of wellness: physical activity, healthy eating, mental wellness, traditional and complementary medicine, wellness in the built environment, wellness at work and wellness in tourism. Each toolkit will address both the why and how of wellness policy: What is the rationale and need for wellness policy action in each domain? How can stakeholders (governments, businesses, communities, nonprofits) take action to address important issues and gaps? This report and the toolkits are intended to be just the beginning of a cross-cutting, global conversation.

We hope that they will spark a wellness policy movement that can be championed by any interested stakeholder groups.

Read and download the report for free here.