CouponCodes4u.com is reporting that searches for gym membership discounts on their website were 67 percent lower in January 2012 than in January 2011. In contrast, searches for dieting pills on the site were up by 51 percent in January 2012 compared to January 2011.

It has also seen a 21 percent increase in searches for cellulite creams and a slow decline in searches for fitness equipment.

Some thoughts on this.

First, this is data from one website, so it's not exactly scientific. It's possible that they're known for offering more deals on diet pills and cellulite cream than for gym memberships and exercise equipment, which would skew the type of people who search their web site. Another coupon site might have data indicating the opposite.

Secondly, you don't need a gym membership to exercise, so I'm going to give web searchers everywhere the benefit of the doubt and assume that many of them are working out at home, running, cycling and burning calories in other ways. I'm also going to assume that they're eating healthfully.

All that being said, this is still disturbing, because it implies that a lot of people are still looking for easy, effortless, unhealthy ways to lose weight.