MSN has a pretty good article from the Mayo Clinic up about why we eat based on mood, how that ends up crippling our metabolisms, and what we can do to break out of the cycle.
Emotional eaters don’t necessarily eat more foods, they eat more unhealthy foods, such as starchy, sweet, salty and fatty foods. Consequently, if stress or negative emotions are chronic, emotional eating can cause health problems such as weight gain and increased cardiovascular risk.
The good news is that if you’re prone to emotional eating, you can regain control of your eating habits. By understanding the reasons why stress and negative emotions may cause you to crave those unhealthy snacks, and how you can avoid indulging your cravings, you’re well on your way to avoiding a dietary disaster.