Flanks can refer to two different things:
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Flank pain: This is pain in one side of the body between the upper belly area (abdomen) and the back. Flank pain can be a sign of a kidney problem, such as kidney stones, infection, or abscess, but it can also be caused by other conditions such as arthritis or infection of the spine, back problems, gallbladder disease, gastrointestinal disease, liver disease, or muscle spasm.
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Excess fat on the sides of the lower waist and back: This is also known as "love handles". Although excess fat can build up anywhere on the body, it often occurs in this area. To reduce this fat, its not possible to target flanks for weight loss, but you can define the muscles underneath, including your core and back muscles, through exercises such as side planks.
In addition, "flank" can also refer to the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the hip.
