Denial? I don't think so.

The main piece I read was by a British mathematician (!) named E.C. Zeeman, using a mathematical model called "Catastrophe Theory" applied to a number of biological problems. He collaborated with the therapist, John Hevesi, and published in several scientific journals and books.

The survey I mentioned was carried out by what was then known as the Anorexic Aid Society*, and its Secretary Patricia Hartley, a psychologist, was the one who was noted as having said that a survey of more than 1,000 patients found "These patients are the only ones who claim that they have recovered completely -- i.e. whose attitude to life itself has changed since undergoing Hevesi's treatment. They are not just eating properly (only the awful surface problem anyway) but living life as a complete personality."

This is from the article called "A Catastrophe Theory of Anorexia Nervosa" in the book Hunger Models, edited by D.A. Booth. Basically the same article appeared in other publications.

* I think this organization became "beat":

http://www.b-eat.co.uk/Home