Background & objectives: Nutritional assessment is the first component of nutrition care and it is necessary for prevention of malnutrition and promoting health. The aim of this study was to assess nutritional status and physical activity level in exceptional children.

Methods: This survey was a cross sectional study conducted on 470 exceptional students aged 5-15 years in 1391 in Tehran. Height and weight were measured using standard tools. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine physical activity levels. The T-test, chi-square and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the data.

Results: According to body mass index (BMI) cut off points defined by WHO, 12.6%, 38.1% and 49.3% of children were wasting/severe wasting, overweight/obese and normal, respectively. The prevalence rates of low height for age (stunting) were 71.7% for mentally retarded, 36.3% for deaf and 17.7% for blind children. Time spent in intense activity was significantly higher in deaf children compared to children with mental retardation (p<0.05). Blind children had significantly highest daytime sitting among all children (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Due to high prevalence of malnutrition among exceptional students, incorporating a proper nutritional intervention into the comprehensive program will likely be successful.