The common search for understanding whether “flanks” and “love handles” are the same reflects confusion between a precise anatomical term and a popular, informal description of accumulated body fat. This distinction is significant for understanding body contouring and the science of fat storage. The relationship between the two terms is one of location and condition, heavily influenced by underlying biological mechanisms like hormones and genetics.
Defining the Flanks and Love Handles
The flank is a specific anatomical region defining the side of the torso. This area extends from the lower edge of the rib cage down to the iliac bone of the hip, forming the sides of the lower back and waist. It is a broad, neutral term used in medical and anatomical contexts to describe a particular section of the trunk.
The colloquial term “love handles” refers to the visible accumulation of excess subcutaneous adipose tissue—or fat—that sits directly beneath the skin in the anatomical flank region. This fat deposit creates a bulge extending outward from the hips and sides of the waistline. Therefore, the flanks represent the location, while love handles are the condition of having excess fat stored there.
A person has flanks regardless of their body composition, but they only have “love handles” when there is a noticeable presence of this localized fat. The fat deposits on the sides are notoriously resistant to loss, often associated with stubborn, localized fat pockets. The fat stored in the flanks is primarily subcutaneous, differentiating it from the deeper, more dangerous visceral fat that accumulates around internal organs.
The Biological Drivers of Fat Storage in the Flanks
The preferential storage of fat in the flanks is governed by a complex interplay of genetic predisposition and hormonal signaling. An individual’s genetics determine their body type and where fat cells (adipocytes) are most numerous and active. This inherited blueprint dictates the general pattern of fat distribution, which can be difficult to override through diet and exercise alone.
Hormones play a direct role in directing fat storage to the midsection, including the flanks. High levels of the stress hormone cortisol, for instance, promote fat deposition in the abdominal area. Similarly, insulin resistance can lead to the body storing more energy as fat, often concentrating it around the waist and flanks.
Sex hormones also influence where fat is stored; women tend to store fat around the hips and thighs, while men accumulate more fat in the abdomen and flanks. The fat cells in the flank area are metabolically different from fat cells elsewhere, often possessing a higher density of alpha-adrenergic receptors. These receptors slow down lipolysis (fat breakdown), making flank fat resistant to mobilization for energy use.
Why Spot Reduction Does Not Work for Flank Fat
The persistent nature of flank fat leads many people to attempt spot reduction, the belief that exercising a specific muscle will burn the fat directly over it. This approach does not work because fat loss is a systemic, whole-body process, not a localized one. The body draws energy from its fat reserves across the entire body, not just from the fat stores near the muscle being worked.
When the body requires energy, it initiates lipolysis, which breaks down stored triglycerides into free fatty acids and glycerol. These components are then released into the bloodstream to be used as fuel by active muscles throughout the body. The location from which the body mobilizes this fat is primarily determined by genetics and hormones, not the muscle that is contracting.
Core exercises, such as side planks or Russian twists, are effective for strengthening the underlying oblique and abdominal muscles, improving stability and tone. However, strengthening the muscle does not directly cause the overlying subcutaneous fat in the flanks to melt away. To reduce love handles, the body requires a consistent caloric deficit, forcing it to draw on overall fat reserves and leading to a general reduction in body fat percentage.