NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
A Vanderbilt University study suggests Tennessee men are not making the grade when it comes to taking care of their health.
In the 2010 Tennessee Men's Health Report Card, released Tuesday, Tennessee men received 39 F's and only 10 A's.
The grades are based on comparing Tennessee data to national goals set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the study, nearly 75% of males in Tennessee were at an unhealthy weight.
The men received F's in lung cancer, head and neck cancer, liver disease, HIV, motor vehicle deaths, suicides and homicide.
"All you have to do is look around you," said Mike Cole, a resident of Nashville, who said he was not surprised by Tennessee's grades.
"Look on the streets. See how we don't take care of ourselves. [The report card] is pretty indicative of what we see every day."
Many say women hold the key to raising these grades.
"There's no question," said E.J. Boyson, a Nashville resident.
"If you're married or in a relationship, if you have a good woman, she's going to feed you right and ask you to go to the doctor."
Personal trainer Sunny Vann of the Downtown YMCA encourages men to use this study as inspiration to make better choices.
"Start today," said Vann.
"It's never too late. It doesn't have to be a major [change]. It can be just small changes in your eating habits or getting outside being active. Do something and start today."
Tennessee men got A's on the percentage that had a colonoscopy, a cholesterol screening and a flu shot.
