Absorbent sanitary article with side panels

An absorbent sanitary article, comprising:

• a central body having a shape elongated along a longitudinal axis and having a rear section, a front section and a crotch section extending between the rear section and the front section, wherein the central body comprises an absorbent core sandwiched between a topsheet and a backsheet,
• first and second side panels having respective proximal edges fixed to corresponding side edges of said rear section or front section of the central body, and respective distal edges, wherein in a folded configuration said first and second side panels are folded around respective first fold lines with respect to the respective proximal edges and have respective first and second panel flaps, and
• at least one extension band having a proximal edge fixed to the distal edge of a respective side panel of the first and second side panels and a distal edge to which at least one closing element is fixed,
• wherein in said folded configuration said at least one extension band has a respective band flap overlapped to a respective panel flap of the first and second panel flaps, wherein said band flap is connected to the respective panel flap by first temporary joining zones.