The Covington News is still on its health kick for the new year and is inviting the public to come out to the second annual Health and Fitness Expo to get some free health screenings and tips for how to stay healthy in 2013.

The expo will be held from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday at the Newton College and Career Academy, 144 Ram Drive, Covington, next to Newton High School. Several health care and fitness vendors will be in attendance to offer free screenings and fitness demonstrations.

"We’re excited about hosting the Health and Fitness Expo once again this year and look forward to seeing the community come out and get important health and fitness information and have tons of fun," said event organizer Cynthia Blackshear-Warren with The News.

Conyers-based Holistic Health Management will be doing body composition/metabolism tests that will show the percentage of body fat, water and lean body mass.

“The person will lie on a portable table that we will bring and we attach electrodes on their foot and hand. It is painless and takes a minute to do; then we print a report for them. It’s an awesome test,” said CEO Gina Johnson.

Chef Jeanie Newton, who heads up the practical culinary arts program at career academy, will perform a live stage demonstration about how to prepare quick and healthy after-school snacks and sandwich wraps for children. Newton will also stay on hand to answer questions from attendees.

Local dance studio Mainstream Dance will perform on stage, while representatives from Alcovy Fitness and Wellness representatives will demonstrate the popular Zumba dance workout.

Also, Conyers-based Ashona Medical Institute will be offering free blood pressure screenings.

The expo will feature several additional speakers, including Mark Ross from Right at Home senior care, and door prizes will be given away throughout the event. Attendees will be able to win awards by answering questions asked during the expo, and Blackshear-Warren said many of the answers will come from recent editions of The News, so those who read the paper will have a better chance at winning a prize.

Several business and organizations will have booths where they will offer more information about their services and products.

There will be a special Health and Fitness special section in Friday’s newspaper with more details about the event and a series of stories about current health issues and local businesses and organizations.

"We live in an age where it benefits everyone to be more health conscious; we welcome you to come out Saturday and talk face to face with health professionals who can make a true difference in your life," said The News’ general manager T. Pat Cavanaugh. "We look forward to talking with you this Saturday, and make sure to bring your whole family as there will be something interesting for everyone."

Another addition to the paper’s focus on health issues in 2013 will be a new magazine, Healthy in Newton, which will launch this spring.

"Our goal is to be a part of a healthier community through education," said Diane Barber, publisher of the company’s new magazine effort.