You've heard us talk about the dangers of accumulating highly inflammatory belly fat; it sets you up for serious conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. But that doesn't mean that accumulating fat in other parts of the body isn't harmful.

Fat on your arms, for example, may indicate you're low on muscle mass. And good muscle mass and tone are essential for everything from balance and energy to maintenance of a healthy weight and good mental health.

Clearly, your body composition is an indication of your overall health.

But did you know that it can also be a warning sign that you are at risk for two of the most devastating chronic conditions — Parkinson's and dementia?

Researchers looked at more than 400,000 people, average age 56, for around nine years. They found that more than 8,200 developed neurodegenerative diseases, mostly Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

People with high levels of belly fat were at a 13% greater risk of developing those diseases than flat-bellied folks.

If they had excess arm fat, their risk went up 18%.

In contrast, folks who had good muscle strength were 26% less likely to develop those life-threatening ailments.