The FODMAP Institute Course, titled; IBS Management: The Low FODMAP Diet is only the first of many courses that will be provided under the GI Institute initiative. Stay tuned for the next exciting course that will be announced.

Yes, absolutely! There will be ongoing webinars available to GI Institute Members that will cover a range of digestive diseases and their management presented by world experts.

This course is currently available in English. The educational patient and health professional resources are being rolled out in various languages. These are accessible to GI Institute members.

Yes. This is a global course and available in all countries.

FODMAP stands for Fermentable, Oligosaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols which are names of groups of poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates.

FODMAPs are a collection of short chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols found in foods naturally or as food additives. FODMAPs include fructose (when in excess of glucose), fructans, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), lactose and polyols (eg. sorbitol and mannitol).  When consumed in foods and/or drinks, FODMAPs can be poorly absorbed in the small intestine and pass through to the large intestine, where FODMAPs are readily fermented by bacteria or they may attract water into the large intestine (large bowel), which can alter how quickly the bowels move.  This may then trigger symptoms including excess wind, abdominal bloating and distension, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhoea, or a combination of both.

The Low FODMAP Diet is proven to be an effective dietary treatment for the vast majority of people with IBS and IBS-type symptoms.  There are 3 phases to the low FODMAP diet.  As part of Phase 1, the initial phase of the low FODMAP diet, high FODMAP foods are swapped for low FODMAP foods. During Phase 2 and 3, individuals will reintroduce FODMAP groups back into their diet to understand which FODMAP groups they tolerate and which they don’t tolerate and then develop a long term personalised IBS management plan.  FODMAP Friendly have laboratory tested many foods and products globally to be low in FODMAPs, providing those on the low FODMAP diet the confidence to eat and shop!

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gut disorder. Symptoms of IBS include reoccurring abdominal pain, excessive bloating, changes in bowel frequency and form and/or wind, with the absence of abnormal pathology.  The cause/s of IBS is still unknown.  Raising awareness for IBS is important for focusing attention on IBS treatment, diagnosis, quality of life and other important information and messages.  See more here.

Please see our page “Presenters”

This course will equip you with knowledge relating to FODMAPs and how they impact gastrointestinal health and digestive diseases which are becoming more prevalent in society. It will demonstrate to both employers and patients that you have training in FODMAPs.

Those who successfully complete the course will be provided with a certificate of completion.

Yes. There is no cut-off date for this course, so you can start whenever most is suitable for you and your timeline.

Yes. This course is designed to be flexible around any other study or work commitments and can be completed at times that best suit your schedule, day or night. There is no timeline to complete the course within, to allow for flexibility.

There is support available directly through FutureLearn Tech questions and troubleshooting or FutureLearn Submit a help request or Email: info@giinstitute.com

Yes, this course is CPE/CPD accredited with many organisations and associations globally.  Those who complete the course will receive CPE/CPD points (where applicable).

There is no timeline restriction to complete the course so you can complete the course at your own pace.

Assessments to be completed in the course include multiple-choice based questions along with a number of case studies.  A course participant must achieve an 80% pass in the case studies to be awarded a certificate of completion.

The course is online and self-paced consisting of 10 modules with education delivered by 9 global FODMAP experts. The course is delivered on the education platform known as FutureLearn.  The modules include:

1. Introduction & Overview of IBS Physiology and Diagnosis
2. Assessing indications and Contraindications for the Low FODMAP Diet
3. Nutrients at Risk when Following the Low FODMAP Diet
4. Implements Phase 1 – Elimination Phase (Initial Low FODMAP Phase)
5. Reviewing your Patient. Implementing Phase 2 – Challenge/Reintroduction Phase
6. Liberalising your Patient’s Diet. Implementing Phase 3 – Maintenance Phase
7. FODMAPS in Food. Distinguishing High & Low FODMAP Foods
8. Dietary Management of IBS. Low FODMAP Diet Fundamentals
9. The Low FODMAP Diet for Other conditions

The only requirement is satisfying one of the health categories listed above.

You will need a computer/device that is able to connect to the internet with suitable sound and video quality, with a stable internet connection.

This course is designed for all health professionals and students, encompassing gastroenterologists, physicians, dietitians, nutritionists, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists and anyone studying a university course in these disciplines or similar health fields. The course will specifically assist dietitians and nutritionists in a clinical, community and private practice setting.