Love handles are the pockets of excess fat that accumulate on the sides of the waist, above the hips. The type of fat that makes up love handles is called subcutaneous fat, which is the fat that lies under the skin and above the muscles.\r
Subcutaneous fat is different from visceral fat, which is the fat that surrounds the organs and is deeper inside the body. Subcutaneous fat is more visible and can affect your appearance, while visceral fat is more dangerous and can affect your health.