I can attest to the fact that stress seams to be a contributing factor to obesity.  A recently relesed study by an international team found that mice that were chronically stressed put on more fat than those who were not. The article in today’s Washington Post tells it all. In addition to poor diet, the increased stress in western societies may be a contributing factor to obesity.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/01/AR2007070100431.html?nav=rss_email/components