According to the Centers For Disease Control in Atlanta, about three out of 10 people in Tennessee are too fat, and university students are not immune from this staggering statistic.
    
“If I have to write a big paper or I get stressed out, I tend to eat a lot of sweets and chocolate,” Anna Nisch, a grad student studying German literature, said. “Coffee is also an issue for me.”
    
So far, though, Anna remains trim, despite her penchant for relieving stress with chocolate.
    
To help students combat this problem and to make Tennessee a healthier place, the Healthy Living Expo is back in Knoxville. The expo will be held at the Knoxville Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21.
    
For many college students, staying up late, partying, eating cheap food and other such activities make their college lifestyles unhealthy.
    
The expo will feature a wide variety of events, from free health checks to food samplings.
   
 “The more people we can teach about living healthier, the better,” said Susan Benton, the communications director at the Healthy Living Expo.
    
The expo is designed to help people become healthier by talking face-to-face with specialists and people going through similar health issues.
    
Free health checks from specialists will be available at many of the more than 250 interactive, educational exhibits. If there is a question about health, one of these exhibits should be able to answer it.
   
 As a college student, finding the time to be healthy is difficult enough, not to mention expensive. A drawing will be held every hour to win a one-year membership in Fort Sanders Health and Fitness Center. Along with this drawing, tons of other prizes will be distributed.
    
Different stages will be set up throughout the expo as well. The Zumba Stage is set up for people of all ages to try the easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, fitness dance. There is also an Eat Right Stage where local chefs and nutritionists will help show people how to eat healthier.
    
Chef Walter Lambert, whose popular cooking show airs on local Channel 8, will be there to talk and share some recipes. There also will be free food tastings. The Get Active Stage will have physical activities such as dance, karate, gymnastics, Pilates, kickboxing and yoga.
   
Missy Kane, a UT graduate and track star, is going to speak at the expo about preventive health screens and wellness. The Family Fun Center has activities for all ages, including a portable tennis court. Last, but not least, there will be free massages for anyone attending the Healthy Living Expo.
    
When asked if he would go to the expo, Stephen Palmer, a sophomore in logistics, said it was a no-brainer.
    
“I would definitely go,” Palmer said. “I mean, come on, free massages.”
    
The Healthy Living Expo is committed to helping people live healthier, whether they are trying to counteract long nights of partying or just curious about how to stay healthy in everyday living.
    
Free tickets are online at http://www.thehealthylivingexpo.com/knoxville/index.php.