Abstract Background: Mental handicap is a condition of sub-average intellectual function combined with deficits in adaptive behavior. It affects 2% of India's population. Compared to the general population individuals with Intellectual Disability (ID) engage in less than the recommended amount of physical activity leading to higher body mass index (BMI) that in turn increases the risk of various metabolic disorders. Also they often struggle with nutritional issues, resulting in underweight. Hence this study was undertaken to study the health status of mentally handicapped individuals with special reference to their BMI status and some factors associated with BMI status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeevoday Special School, Sadar, and Nagpur between October 2022 to December 2022 among 300 mentally handicapped who were above 5 years of age. Data was collected by face-to-face interview method from teachers and parents regarding sociodemographic details, Intelligence Quotient (IQ), and type of disability among mentally handicapped individuals. Anthropometric measurements of participants were taken and BMI was derived. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: The mean age of participants was 17.77 ± 9.178 years. The majority of participants were ≥ 21 years old, males (64.7%), studying in vocational class (34%), had IDD (57.3%) and mild level of mental retardation (62.7%). The mean BMI was 19.9 ± 5.23, the majority (54.7%) of participants had normal weight, 18% were underweight, 18% overweight and 9.3% obese. BMI status was significantly associated with chronological age, gender and level of mental retardation while chronological age and gender were the significant predictors of BMI. Conclusions: The majority (54.7%) of participants had normal weight, 18% were underweight, 18% were overweight and 9.3% were obese. Mean and standard deviation of BMI was 19.9 ± 5.23. BMI status was significantly associated with chronological age, gender and level of mental retardation while chronological age and gender were the significant predictors of BMI.