Absorbent article having elasticized side shields with improved body fit

An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, a first side and a second side comprising:

• a topsheet;
• a bottomsheet;
• an absorbent structure positioned between the topsheet and the bottomsheet, the absorbent structure generally hour glass in shape having a first lobe, a central portion, and a second lobe, the central portion defined by a width about 65 millimeters or less, and a length about 50 millimeters or greater;
• a pair of side shields formed on opposite sides of the absorbent structure by a first elastic member adjacent the first side and a second elastic member adjacent the second side, the first and second elastic members contracting at least a portion of the first and second sides, each of the side shields having an upstanding end and a terminal end adjacent the absorbent structure, the side shield having an effective height defined as the maximum vertical distance from the terminal end to the upstanding end;
• and
• the absorbent article having a crotch width defined as the minimum transverse dimension between the terminal ends, the absorbent article having a fit factor defined as the crotch width divided by the effective height, and the fit factor is less than about 7.0.

An absorbent article having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, a first side, and a second side comprising:

• a topsheet;
• a bottom sheet;
• an absorbent structure having a first layer and a second layer positioned between the topsheet and the bottomsheet, the first layer adjacent the bottomsheet and generally hour glass in shape having a first lobe, a central portion, a second lobe, and a periphery, the central portion defined by a width about 65 millimeters or less, and a length about 50 millimeters or greater;
• the second layer adjacent the first layer and having a perimeter;
• and the periphery of the first layer extending past the perimeter of the second layer;
• a transfer layer adjacent the second layer;
• a pair of side shields formed on opposite sides of the absorbent structure by a first elastic member adjacent the first side and a second elastic member adjacent the second side, the first and second elastic members contracting at least a portion of the first and second sides, each of the side shields having an upstanding end and a terminal end adjacent the absorbent structure, the side shield having an effective height defined as the maximum vertical distance from the terminal end to the upstanding end;
• and
• the absorbent article having a crotch width defined as the minimum transverse dimension between the terminal ends, the absorbent article having a fit factor defined as the crotch width divided by the effective height, and the fit factor is about 7.0 or less.