The WHO definition of health has been criticized as embracing all human activity (Seedhouse, 1997; Siracci, 1997) and Health Impact Assessment may be misinterpreted as an attempt to make all policy areas subordinate to health. The wording of the Ottawa Charter that
health promotion … puts health on the agenda of policy makers in all sectors and all levels, directing them to be aware of the health consequences of their decisions and to accept their responsibilities for health
may reinforce such fears. Policy makers have to satisfy many policy goals including political, economic and social aims. Government is increasingly concerned that its different policy initiatives should be integrated. There may be calls to analyse policies for their impact on many other issues that cut across the interests of several ministries such as the economy, law and order, children, drugs and so on. While reframing economic and social goals as determinants of health may not alter the policy task, it can disturb the balance of influence between branches of the policy-making organization. It is possible that health promoters could advance their cause more easily if Health Impact Assessment were given a name such as overall policy appraisal, which would not be seen to imply territorial claims.