Testing the Efficacy of Different Dosages of Lercanidipine to Reduce Hypertensive Blood Pressure in Normal Weight and Obese Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Body Mass Index (BMI): 18.0 - 24.9 or 30.0 - 39.9 kg/m2 (extremes included); * Essential hypertension I or II WHO: * 140 mmHg ≤ BPs ≤ 179 mmHg and BPd ≤ 109 mmHg at the end of the placebo run-in phase; Exclusion Criteria: * Secondary hypertension; * Diabetes mellitus type 1, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus type 2, fasting blood glucose ≥ 160 mg/dl; * Subjects keeping to a hypocaloric diet (except special diet for diabetics) to reduce body weight; * History or presence of angioneurotic oedema; * Subjects developing a hypertensive crisis during wash-out or placebo run-in period;