The use of the silhouette method has been criticized, in adults as well on the grounds that it does not measure the accuracy of perception as defined by the signal detection theory: the minimum amount of stimuli intensity (or body size distortion) that must be present for the sensation to be detected.
This approach provides a relatively precise measure of the perceptual-cognitive component of visual detection involved in body image estimation although is not free of responses bias (Shiffman, 2001) and is likely more demanding
for younger children, who have greater difficulty paying attention during lengthy procedures (Gardner, 2004).
Using this method, Gardner et al. (1999) found that children aged from 6 to 14 years were quite accurate in their estimations of their body size compared to adults.
Interestingly, our results were similar and we did not find a significant difference between
children and parents in terms of their level of accuracy.
Finally, our findings showed that patterns of misperceptions are similar for both children and their parents.