The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between reported physical activity and physical environment, policy environment and social support. The aim was to evaluate the success of the policy for physical activity in Finland and to develop the evaluation of the policy for physical activity in the context of health promotion. The empirical data for the research consist of international telephone interview data (Belgium, N=389; Spain, N= 380; the Netherlands, N=366; Germany (eastern), N= 913; Germany (western), N=489; Switzerland, N=406; Finland, N= 400), face to face interviews of Finnish decision-makers (N=16), statistics for sport facilities, statistics for finance and documents of policies regarding physical activity and health. According to the results there seem to be relationships between social support, physical and policy environment and participation in physical activity. These results were found with both subjective (interview answers) and objective measures (statistics for sport facilities). On the basis of quantitative measures, it can be concluded that health-enhancing physical activities have been fairly successful in Finland. From the point of view of equality, the promotion of physical activity has not been as successful. The respondents in the countryside and the least educated regarded their possibilities for physical activity as less than other respondents. The evaluation of the policies for physical activity has thus far been minimal in Finland. It is suggested that the health promotion outcome model used in this research will enhance the implementation of the policies of physical activity and the development of their evaluation. It presents possible ways in which physical activity is connected to health and well-being, as well as means by which physical activity, and hence also health, can be promoted. Timo Ståhlin mukaan terveysliikunnan edistäminen on Suomessa onnistunut melko hyvin. Hänen väitöstutkimuksensa on ensimmäinen suomalainen liikuntapolitiikan arviointi terveyden edistämisen näkökulmasta. Suomesta tutkimukseen osallistuneet pirkanmaalaiset ovat aktiivisempia liikkujia kuin vertailukohteeksi valitut saksalaiset, ja he arvioivat myös liikkumismahdollisuutensa paremmiksi. Suomessa on myös selvästi enemmän liikuntapaikkoja asukasta kohden kuin Saksassa, mutta sosiaalinen tuki on sittenkin tärkeämpää aktiiviselle liikkumiselle.Yhdenvertaisuuden näkökulmasta liikunnan edistämisessä ei ole onnistuttu yhtä hyvin. Maaseudun asukkaat ja vähiten koulutetut kokevat liikkumis-mahdollisuutensa muita useammin huonoiksi. Pikkukaupungeissa asuvat arvioivat liikkumismahdollisuutensa hyviksi yli kaksi kertaa yleisemmin kuin maaseudulla asuvat. Matalasti koulutetut pitivät liikkumismahdollisuuksiaan heikkona kolme kertaa yleisemmin kuin yliopiston tai korkeakoulun käyneet henkilöt, Ståhl erittelee.