The number of overweight or obese infants and young children (aged 0 to 5 years) increased from 32 million globally in 1990 to 41 million in 2016. In the WHO African Region alone the number of overweight or obese children increased from 4 to 9 million over the same period. The vast majority of overweight or obese children live in developing countries, where the rate of increase has been more than 30% higher than that of developed countries. Without intervention, obese infants and young children will likely continue to be obese during childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Obesity in childhood is associated with a wide range of serious health complications and an increased risk of premature onset of illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease. Exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months of age is an important way to help prevent infants from becoming overweight or obese.