The planned and organized process of boosting and assisting improvement in the health of a population, distinct from the provision of health care services.
It operates enabling individuals and communities to increase control over the determinants of health and thereby improve their health. It encompasses fostering lifestyles and other social, economic, environmental, and personal factors conducive to health.
Health promotion can involve a variety of activities, including: promoting healthy public policies, supportive environments for health, healthy lifestyles, community action for health, improving personal knowledge and skills; and the development of health services concerned with health rather than merely focused on disease and disability.
Health promotion includes many aspects of preventive medicine and public health.

Adapted from World Health Organization. Terminology. A glossary of technical terms on the economics and finance of health services. Internet. Accessed December 18, 2015.