Course

Intermittent Fasting: Therapeutic Mechanisms and Clinical Applications

Explore various fasting methods as a therapeutic tool to improve patient outcomes

On-Demand
Up to 1 CME/CE
$60.00
Membership discounts available

Course Overview

Fasting for medical purposes has long been a tradition in many cultures and is an established therapeutic approach in integrative and functional medicine. Over the years, many different forms of fasting have been developed to support the treatment of specific chronic conditions. Intermittent Fasting: Therapeutic Mechanisms and Clinical Applications is an introductory course that explores the health benefits of various fasting methods and their clinical appropriateness for specific patient types.

100%
online & on-demand
60
days to complete course
1.0
CME/CE credit max

A Useful Clinical Tool for Improving Health Outcomes

Clock sitting on a plate symbolizing intermittent fasting

Learning Objectives

In the Intermittent Fasting course, you will learn to: 

  • Define several intermittent fasting approaches.
  • Identify potential benefits of intermittent fasting.
  • Define autophagy and ketosis.
  • Differentiate clinical indications and contraindications for intermittent fasting.
  • Advise clients considering intermittent fasting.
  • Assess the scope and limitations of emerging evidence.

Course Content

This course provides a balanced overview of the primary therapeutic mechanisms of action, levels of evidence, potential contraindications, and implementation approaches for several fasting methods, including:

  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Alternate-Day Fasting
  • Prolonged Fasting Routine
  • Time-Restricted Eating
  • Intermittent Energy Restriction (subtypes 5:2 and modified alternate-day fasting)
     

There are many different ways to fast, and each patient may have a different response. This course is designed to help clinicians be able to confidently use fasting as a therapeutic tool for improving health outcomes.

Pricing

The standard pricing of the program is reflected below. When logged in to your IFM account, available discounts are automatically applied to pricing in your cart. Please note that CME is available for an additional $10. Cancellations are subject to our program policy.

Regular

$50.00

IFM Member

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$45.00

Military/VA

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Military Status
$45.00

Student/Resident

Apply for
Resident or Medical Student Tuition
$45.00

You may also be interested in:

Lifestyle: The Foundations of Functional Medicine
Introduction to Functional Medicine
Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP)™

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Who is this course for?

Therapeutic fasting is a useful clinical tool for enhancing health and well-being. This course is intended for licensed healthcare practitioners who give nutrition advice to patients and want to learn more about personalizing a fasting regimen within the functional medicine framework. Fasting can be applied within the scope of practice of many care providers, such as:

  • Nurse practitioners
  • Nutrition professionals (RD, CNS, CN, and others with advanced degrees from accredited universities)
  • Pharmacists
  • Physician assistants
  • Physicians (MDs, NDs, DOs, DCs)
  • Registered nurses


This course provides the evidence base and clinical applications of intermittent fasting. Having awareness of the therapeutic benefits of intermittent fasting is important for clinicians at all levels. This introductory course provides a foundational overview of the characteristics of several fasting routines. We encourage you to share this course with other colleagues in your field.

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ACCME Accredited with Commendation Logo

Participate in Accredited Functional Medicine Training

Direct accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) ensures IFM’s training meets rigorous standards for educational excellence and is relevant to clinicians’ needs, evidence-based, evaluated for its effectiveness, and independent of commercial influence.
Learn about the value of accredited trainings

Accredited by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists

IFM is accredited by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS) to provide Nutrition Professional Continuing Education (NPCE) credits for Certified Nutrition Specialists® (CNS®).

CME/CE Credit Information

The CME/CE option is intended for clinicians who need to fulfill continuing education requirements. If you do not need CME/CE credits, you may purchase the non-CME option.
  • MD/DO: The Institute for Functional Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • CNS: IFM designates this activity for a maximum of 1.0 NPCE Credit.
  • ND: Generally, state naturopathic boards accept courses accredited through the ACCME.
  • Nursing Professional: The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) accept contact hours approved through ACCME.
  • PA: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts contact hours approved through ACCME.
  • RD: The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) accepts contact hours approved through ACCME.
  • Other: For information on applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board or other credentialing organization regarding the acceptance of contact hours through ACCME-accredited organizations.

CME/CE credits are subject to change.

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Course Policy

  • Your course will be delivered electronically to your online account directly upon purchase.
  • You will have access to the course for 60 days from the date of purchase.
  • The course video and audio are only available to stream and cannot be downloaded.
  • You will have access to downloadable slides and other resources.
  • For courses that qualify for Continuing Medical Education (“CME”) credits, to receive CME credits, you must complete any required course evaluation(s) and a timecard by the stated deadline within the course. Where applicable, course evaluation and timecard instructions will be emailed to you.

Cancellation Policy

Except as otherwise prohibited by applicable laws, purchases of online digital content are not refundable if you have accessed the purchased IFM Materials in any form, including without limitation by streaming, viewing, or downloading the same. If IFM can confirm that you have not accessed the IFM Materials, you can request a refund no later than 15 days from the date of purchase.  

*Given the nature of digital items, refunds or credits on this purchase are not permitted.
Cancellation Request Received Eligible Refund
Anytime after purchase* No refund allowed

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Frequently Asked Questions

More Information About Intermittent Fasting

Yes, learners are provided access to downloadable slides and other resources.

Practitioners will have 60 days to complete the approximately one-hour course.  

No, given the nature of digital items, refund or credits on this purchase are not permitted.  

This course is intended for licensed healthcare practitioners who give nutrition advice to patients and want to learn more about personalizing a fasting regimen within the functional medicine framework.  

Have additional questions?

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