The STRIP study (Special Turku coronary Risk factor Intervention Project) has examined the influences of saturated fat-oriented counseling on dietary intakes, serum lipid, and apolipoprotein concentrations and growth and development in children aged 7 months to 20 years of age. The study subjects were randomly assigned to either intervention group (n = 540) or a control group (n = 522) and dietary counseling was given to intervention families through childhood and adolescence at 3- to 12-month intervals. Compared with controls, the intervention children had a lower saturated fat intake as well as lower LDL-C concentration but growth and physical development were not influenced. The intervention effect on coronary heart disease risk factors was larger in boys than girls. Physically active lifestyle and avoidance of tobacco smoke may prevent the development of subclinical atherosclerotic vascular changes in healthy adolescents. The ‘ideal cardiovascular health’ concept as determined by AHA can be effectively promoted in adolescents.