For help spotting the warning signals, we spoke with ACE-certified personal trainer Franklin Antoian, creator of iBodyFit.com ...

More iStock / Getty Images Plus Excess upper arm fat can be associated with increased health risks, according to a June 2020 study published in the peer-reviewed journal BMC Endocrine Disorders.

Training the upper body strengthens the connective tissue in the shoulders, neck, spine, wrists, elbows and hands. This improves joint health and stability, and reduces the risk of injury.

A forceful injury can tear or rupture the bicep or tricep tendons. Injuries to the upper arm muscles and tendons are most common in men 30-50, but women also may experience them.