Dane Baker - Performance Dietitian
about Dane Baker - Performance Dietitian
Available nationwide via telehealth; in-person at St Johns, St Lukes, and Wairau Rd.
Im a Performance Dietitian with extensive experience working with New Zealands top athletes and teams, as well as patients from all walks of life. My focus is on helping people optimise their health and performance through evidence-based, practical nutrition care.
services
Services
Low Energy Availability & REDs
I provide comprehensive assessment and management for REDs, with periodised plans to restore energy balance and optimise bone and reproductive health, coordinating care within a multidisciplinary team when required.
Performance & Sport
I create tailored fuelling plans for training and competition, hydration, gut comfort, and safe muscle mass optimisation. I also support weight-class strategies and body composition goals in a sustainable way.
Hormonal & Metabolic Health
I support patients with PCOS, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and peri-/post-menopause, focusing on hormonal balance, body composition, and metabolic health.
Injury & Bone Health
I guide nutrition strategies to support recovery from bone stress injuries and post-injury return to sport, focusing on energy availability, protein distribution, calcium, and vitamin D.
Adolescent Athletes
I help young athletes manage growth, recovery, and fuelling demands with school-friendly plans. My approach promotes safe muscle development while safeguarding against under-fuelling and RED-S.
Body Composition & Weight Management
I provide behaviour-first, evidence-based plans to support fat loss or healthy muscle gain, with strategies for appetite control, protein, and fibre to build long-term success.
Osteoarthritis & Healthy Ageing
I support older adults with nutrition to improve mobility, reduce pain, and maintain strength, working alongside physiotherapy and strength programs
What to Expect
Before we meet
Youll be invited to use a secure photo food journal app (MealLogger) and, if relevant, provide referral notes or background information. This helps me prepare for your consultation.
First consult (60 minutes)
Well review your medical history, current training or lifestyle, and key nutrition challenges. Ill highlight the main priorities and then provide thorough education during the consult, followed by developing a comprehensive personalised energy and nutrition plan, tailored to your activity levels and training demands.
Follow-ups
I usually recommend a review within 6-8 weeks to check progress, refine your plan, and answer questions. Plans are updated as your training load, health, or goals change.
Collaboration & Communication
With your consent, I share concise updates with referrers after each consult. I collaborate closely with GPs, sports medicine, physiotherapy, and endocrinology to ensure integrated, safe, and effective care.
credentials
Credentials & Research
Qualifications
- NZ Registered Dietitian (NZRD)
- BSc Human Nutrition
- Diploma in Sporting Performance
- Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics
- IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition (Distinction)
Academic & Professional Roles
- University educator and lecturer in sports nutrition
- Collaborator with national sporting organisations and elite teams
Research
I am a lecturer and active researcher at the University of Otago, with more than 20 publications in leading journals. My research spans RED-S, low energy availability, recovery, team sport nutrition, female health, and broader performance nutrition. This ongoing academic output underpins my clinical work, ensuring patients and referrers benefit from the latest, evidence-based approaches.