Local Expert Highlights When Student Athletes Become Obsessed

By Lynne Adkins,

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It's nearly time for student athletes to begin pre-season training and a local expert urges coaches and parents to keep an eye out for eating or over training issues.

Athletes striving for perfection may fall into dangerous habits of restricting calories to become as lean as possible and practicing or exercising far too long.

Kelly Pedrotty-Stump exercise coordinator at the Renfrew Center, an eating disorder facility in Philadelphia, says parents and coaches need to look for signs.

"Sometimes they're spending 2 hours a day practicing, but then they [may be] spending 2 hours on top of that if they're noticing that [they are] having some obsessive thoughts about their appearance [or] maybe about their performance or exercise," explains Pedrotty-Stump.

She says to ask the athlete about his feelings or problems, but don't focus on body image and if you think there's a problem talk to your doctor.