London, Dec 17 (IANS): British scientists have claimed that they have developed a smart bra that can detect mood changes to prevent overeating.

M.C. Schraefel, professor of computer science and human performance design at Southampton University, has helped to design a smart bra that can detect changes in mood, with the hope of preventing emotionally-triggered overeating in women, according to a university statement issued Tuesday.

The prototype contains removable sensors that monitor heart and skin activity.

The data collected is sent to the wearer of the bra via a smartphone application.

These physical symptoms are supposed to indicate mood, which a woman can track in order to highlight when “emotional eating” is likely to occur.

“Emotional state, habitual practices, like snacking in front of the TV or grabbing a cookie when stressed, often go undetected by us - that’s the nature of habits - but they have real effects on our well-being,” Schraefel said.

The bra is the result of a study called 'Food and Mood: Just-in-Time Support for Emotional Eating', authored by researchers from the University of Southampton, Microsoft Research and the University of Rochester in the US.