I do agree Wendy, the one benefit I have heard of is that it MAY help someone to start regaining control, then they seek help with the other problems, and I would also think it has to be combined with healthy eating pro fast.
I also think that there may be others on Curezone with similar experiences who can chip in. I know some people have helped themselves get out of it.
The problem is that if you say to people, "sorry no way" they are going to do it anyway.
One other big problem I know of is that many eating disorder support places use things like cookies and poor food to "help" people. When they refuse this, the support centers simply think they are not co-operating, so they pretend to co-operate but have no respect for the support people, then eventually go back to old habits.