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GREENSBORO — U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Nicholson has a message for veterans: Watch your weight.

Too many veterans are developing diabetes and other health problems because of their lifestyles and eating habits, he said during a speech Tuesday to military veterans at the Koury Convention Center.

"We're carrying around too much weight and not getting enough exercise," Nicholson said.

Health care was one of the themes of the speech, which also touched on issues involving benefits and VA cemeteries.

Nicholson acknowledged recent media reports of poor care at VA hospitals, but defended the department's performance overall.

The nation's VA hospitals see more than a million patients a week, he said. "Something will go awry here or there," he said.

The department is working to improve care, tackling problems such as a nursing shortage, he said, and a nursing academy will help address that issue.

Nicholson said that the hospitals also have made a successful effort to cut down on staph infections.

According to Nicholson, there also has been success in recent years in reducing the number of homeless veterans, which has dropped to 195,000 from well over 200,000.

That trend needs to continue, he said.

"It's still too high," he said. "It would be too high if we just had one chronically homeless veteran."

Nicholson spoke in front of hundreds of veterans at the annual convention of the American Veterans, or AMVETS group.

Tom McGriff, the group's national commander, said Nicholson has acknowledged the issues the system is confronting.

"There's been some problems with the VA," McGriff said. "He's well aware of them."

Nicholson, who is leaving his post this year, closed by paying tribute to the veterans in attendance.

"Thank you for what you have done for our country," he said.

Contact Jason Hardin at 373-7021 or at jhardin@news-record.com