Tort reform, as discussed in the recent documentary “Hot Coffee”, significantly affects the ability of citizens to change the way a company does business. As we gain more knowledge of what is and is not harmful to us, businesses must adapt their practices. A new study demonstrating the effects of high-fat food on the brain will likely add more fuel to the debate over the obligation of food providers to the health of their customers.

The study, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, found that high-fat foods cause damage to the hypothalamus – an area of the brain that controls your urge to eat and sends signals to stop eating when you are full. The evidence, found in rodents, has been linked to humans.

The high-fat diet caused gliosis, an overgrowth of cells that indicates the brain has tried to heal itself from injury. When the brain images of 34 healthy people were examined, ranging from lean to obese, the link between body weight and gliosis was similar to that found in rodents.

While it may be no surprise that high-fat food is harmful, the researchers question whether such brain damage might create a condition where it is much harder to keep weight off.

Whether you feel it is the responsibility of fast-food giants like McDonalds to serve healthier food or not, it is worth noting the effects tort reform will have over such issues. If it is found that a corporation produces a product that harms customers, un-capped punitive damages will allow the courts to punish the corporation financially, which will likely change its practice. With tort reform, that will not be an option.

The Metier Law Firm, LLC – Denver injury attorneys