Determinants of health

Wider determinants, also known as social determinants, are a diverse range of social, economic and environmental factors impacting health. These factors are influenced by the local, national and international distribution of power and resources that shape daily life. Marmot review highlighted the importance of the wider determinants of health and how they lead to poor health and health inequalities. Variation in the experience of these wider determinants (i.e. social inequalities) is a fundamental cause of differences in health outcomes (i.e. health inequalities). Wider determinants are now recognised to have a greater influence on health than health care, behaviours or genetics.