Obesity and hypertension are independent risks for congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic kidney disease. In obesity induced hypertension, the most common cause of human essential hypertension, the potential importance of mineralocorticoid receptor blockade has not been widely investigated. We propose to test the hypothesis that eplerenone reduces metabolic demand, improves cardiac function and attenuates glomerular hyperfiltration and microalbuminuria in obese patients. Our specific aims are to assess changes in basal metabolic rate, cardiac and renal function in obese hypertensive subjects treated with eplerenone compared to amlodipine.