Background: An adequate diet and physical activity is a prerequisite for appropriate growth and development. Balanced nutrition coupled with physical activity forms a healthy lifestyle which eventually leads to multiple health benefits such as positive health and a lower risk of non communicable diseases. AIM: The objective of this study to determine dietary pattern and their effects on physical health among school going children in central India. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was carried out in the department of paediatrics in a tertiary care hospital, central India. 350 school going children whose parents or guardian provide consent for the study were enrolled. The socio-demographic data, anthropometric measurements for physical health status and dietary pattern was recorded. The data collected was analysed using the statistical analysis SSPS version 22. Results: The mean age of the participants was 12.4±2.2 years. Female participants were slightly more (54.9%) than male. Majority of them (56.9%) was vegetarians. 61.4% of taking meal 2 times in a day and 66.3% has eats junk food sometimes in a week. Prevalence of overweight or obesity was 4.6% and 29.7% had short stature. Mean body mass index was 16.48±3.64, mean waist circumference was 23.23±4.35 whereas mean hip circumference was 27.56±4.35. Conclusion: More emphasis should be given to limiting junk food intake, increasing healthy food intake, and motivating the students to be more physically active. This can be done by encouraging the family as well as teachers at the school level and creating more spaces for children to be physically active at the community level