You don’t say what these personal things are. If they involve any kind of abuse, then you need to talk to someone who can help – a trusted adult or your GP. If not, you could first try talking to your mate and explaining your worries – after all, if she’s truly your friend, she’ll respect your concerns and should be able to reassure you that your secrets won’t go any further. But if it’s still worrying you that much then yes, I think you should tell your mum.

There is nothing worse than the anticipation of not knowing, so stop the drama and get some control back for you. I’m guessing your biggest worry is your mum finding out that others know these family secrets, so if you tell your mum a) that cancels out that worry and b) your mum can support you and decide if she needs to intervene, especially if these issues are that sensitive and could potentially cause other problems.

I understand your concerns, but does your mum actually want to lose weight or is this something you want her to do? If she seriously wants to eat more healthily and you want to help, the two of you could decide on a goal, like taking part in Cancer Research’s Race For Life, which is also for a great cause. You could then sit down together, plan what your meals are going to be like during your training period, and then start exercising together.

If you go to runnersworld.co.uk and then click on the training link, it will give you a six-week training plan – everything from the food to eat, to stretching exercises prior to training, and then an actual training program. As with any eating plan, you should always consult a doctor before you start, so remember to make an appointment with your GP first. If your mum can see a point to healthy eating and it’s something she could share with you, she might just give it a go and then stick to it!