Creating a Smartphone Application That Monitors the Consumption of FODMAPs to Prevent FODMAP Stacking

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

10th Grade

Presentation Topic

Computer Science

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) are short-chain carbohydrates which can cause gastrointestinal distress due to their ability to rapidly ferment and draw water into the intestine. To combat symptoms, patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, may be prescribed a Low FODMAP Diet, in which the consumption of FODMAPs is limited. However, adequately limiting FODMAPs can be difficult due to a process called FODMAP Stacking, where same-type FODMAPs from recently consumed foods accumulate in the stomach. The purpose of this project was to develop a smartphone application that allows for the user’s diet to be documented and calculates if the user eating a selected food item will stack FODMAPs past the Low FODMAP threshold. Based on the identified amount of total FODMAPs, the app displays an icon to the user, categorizing the total as Low, Medium, or High FODMAP. To test the app, different trios of food combinations were hand-calculated for FODMAP amounts and plugged into the app. The expected FODMAP categorization and the app-identified FODMAP categorization were compared, showing that the app displayed the correct category for all trials.

Location

ECL 105

Start Date

3-25-2023 11:15 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 11:15 AM

Creating a Smartphone Application That Monitors the Consumption of FODMAPs to Prevent FODMAP Stacking

ECL 105

Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) are short-chain carbohydrates which can cause gastrointestinal distress due to their ability to rapidly ferment and draw water into the intestine. To combat symptoms, patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, may be prescribed a Low FODMAP Diet, in which the consumption of FODMAPs is limited. However, adequately limiting FODMAPs can be difficult due to a process called FODMAP Stacking, where same-type FODMAPs from recently consumed foods accumulate in the stomach. The purpose of this project was to develop a smartphone application that allows for the user’s diet to be documented and calculates if the user eating a selected food item will stack FODMAPs past the Low FODMAP threshold. Based on the identified amount of total FODMAPs, the app displays an icon to the user, categorizing the total as Low, Medium, or High FODMAP. To test the app, different trios of food combinations were hand-calculated for FODMAP amounts and plugged into the app. The expected FODMAP categorization and the app-identified FODMAP categorization were compared, showing that the app displayed the correct category for all trials.