Disposable absorbent article with elasticized side panels, and method of making the same

A disposable absorbent article has a central body that includes an absorbent core, a front longitudinal edge, and a rear longitudinal edge opposite the front longitudinal edge. The disposable absorbent article also has a pair of elasticized side panels that extend longitudinally adjacent opposite lateral sides of the central body. Each side panel has a front longitudinal edge and a rear longitudinal edge opposite the front longitudinal edge, and a front or rear fastening element positioned adjacent the front or rear edge. The front edge of the side panel is positioned closer to the front waist portion than the rear edge. The fastening element is constructed for fastening the front and rear waist portions of the central body when the disposable absorbent article is worn by a user.