Pork chops are a very lean cut of meat. They are loin cuts, meaning they have been cut from both sides of the spine - between the ribcage and the hip. These are cut perpendicular to the spine. Now, not all chops are lean. It depends on the part and the quality of the animal which they came from. Some have a decent amount of fat. Usually, thicker chops have a layer of fat attached to the lean meat. When you see marbled patterns on the chops, it has good fat and flavor. The thickness of the chops determines the seasoning and cooking time.