Dietary management and the low FODMAP diet in IBS – Advanced course

Learn with world experts in nutrition.

This comprehensive online course has been set up to train registered dietitians on how to successfully deliver and implement the low FODMAP diet for optimal efficacy.

A diet low in fermentable short chain carbohydrates (FODMAPs) has been shown to be clinically effective in minimising the symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome. The low FODMAP diet originated in Australia and has been successfully adapted to the UK. 

Course delivery:

Online. All lectures are pre-recorded. There are no taught sessions. This is a self-paced, self-learning course.

Live interactive sessions will be held on Microsoft Teams to ask questions about the coursework and to ask the experts questions related to the management of IBS.

Course dates:

You can join at any time. This is a self-learning course which can be completed at your own pace within 12 months between September and August. 

Course duration:

Equivalent to 4 days CPD (Continuing Professional Development).

The course comprises approximately 24 hours of direct learning with an additional 14 hours of self-directed learning to be completed within 19 weeks.

Weekly study:

It is advised that delegates complete all topics up to and including FODMAP restriction (approximately 20 hours of time commitment) within the first 4 weeks and continue to work through the rest of the course at regular intervals to enable optimal experiential learning.

The direct learning comprises a series of short lectures, expert talking heads interactions and dietitian appointment videos divided into distinct topics. These can be viewed at your own pace either a few minutes or hours at a time or setting aside a full day to complete several topics together.

The self-directed learning includes case studies, quizzes and additional reading within some of the course topics and a dedicated section on experiential learning. The experiential learning is where you advise a patient on the low FODMAP diet (in your own clinical setting), undertake your own FODMAP restriction and report back in an online forum discussion within a dedicated small group of up to 10 delegates.

How will you be assessed?

This course is not assessed externally, but there are self-checking activities and plenty of opportunities to discuss and to compare your thinking with others.

Upon completion of all activities, participants will be awarded a King's College London Certificate of Attendance.

What past delegates said about the course:

- "It was very informative and enjoyable. I have learnt a lot."

- "A really enjoyable course. I feel more confident to provide a better service to support my patients tin optimising outcomes when managing their IBS."

- "I have already recommended the course to everyone that I know :)"

- “Likely to recommend because this is the most in-depth FODMAP course available.”

- "Essential and very useful points of access to the experts as well as an opportunity to discuss with fellow dietitians."

- "Thank you for your time and sharing expertise. I very much enjoyed the course."

- "I enjoyed the course and found it really useful. Online is good for people who would struggle to travel to attend the course but you don't get the same experience in comparison to attending face to face. It provides the opportunity to ask questions in the moment and facilitates greater opportunity for networking, sharing experiences and tips."

- "It empowers me to apply skills in identifying IBS cases in term of making nutrition diagnosis and knowing the resources to help."

This course will provide an integrated approach to the clinical and dietary management of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders with particular reference to the role of FODMAPs.

Through case studies and problem centred learning, participants will develop their skills in producing nutrition care plans. Online lectures, forum discussions on clinical cases and case studies based on practice examples will develop a deeper knowledge of the role of diet, including FODMAPs in functional gastrointestinal disorders.

In particular the course will:

• Provide an introduction to the medical management of functional gastrointestinal disorders
• Discuss the mechanisms for FODMAPs and the different stages of the low FODMAP diet
• Provide opportunities to learn how to manage the dietary needs of complex patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders
• Discuss long term management of functional gastrointestinal disorders

By the end of the course you will:

• Have a critical understanding of the basis for medical and dietary management of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders
• Be able to adapt menus and recipes suitable for a low FODMAP diet
• Be competent to integrate and interpret the principles of and evidence for avoidance of FODMAPs to a variety of clinical situations
• Know how to develop a care pathway for local delivery of a diet low in FODMAPs
• Be able to plan, deliver, monitor and evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a diet low in FODMAPs for patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders

You must be a registered dietitian to join this course. 

This course is designed for qualified dietitians in clinical practice who regularly see patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Participants are expected to have a basic understanding of functional gastrointestinal disorders, so that they are able to apply the course to their own area of clinical practice. 

UK dietitians: you will need to provide evidence of your registration with the HCPC as part of your application.

International dietitians: please contact fodmaps@kcl.ac.uk to obtain dietitian's recognition approval before applying to the course. 

This course is not assessed externally, but there are self-checking activities and plenty of opportunities to discuss and to compare your thinking with others.

Employer Funded - Payment by Invoice

This option is only available if your course fee is being paid for by your employer or company.

Please note you will need to provide the following information during checkout:

• Purchase order number: if your place of work (e.g. NHS Trust or other hospital) is paying for your place on the course, please make sure you have a purchase order number ready before starting the application form. Without a purchase order number your application will be rejected. However, if you are self-funded and pay by credit card you do not need a purchase order number.
• Full name of the company
• Web URL address of the company
• Company finance department address to which the course fee invoice will be posted to
• Email address where the invoice can be sent
• The name of the individual at the company, responsible for approving the invoice from King’s
• The contact details of this individual, including their job title, department; email and telephone number

Please note that King’s College London payment terms are 30 days from the date of the invoice.