Aim The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of both foetal and/or post‐natal nutritional periods on feeding regulation in adult rats. Methods Body weight gain, adipose tissue development, food preferences and feeding pattern under regular chow or Western diets were characterized on four experimental groups of rats: pups born from protein‐restricted dams (R) and weaned by control (RC) or R dams (RR) and pups born from control dams weaned by C (CC) or R dams (CR). Results Rats born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and fed a Western diet at adulthood appeared predisposed to body weight gain and more fat accretion, whereas CR rats, despite their preference for high‐fat diet and their hyperphagia for Western diet, did not show significant increase in fat tissue. Daytime food intakes, as well as their speed of ingestion, were found modified in RC and RR. Alterations in the hypothalamic appetite regulatory mechanisms were investigated through neuropeptide expression analysis. IUGR rats showed altered expression of key elements of leptin and NPY signalling, while CR rats exhibited lesser expression of enterostatin, MC4r and HT‐1Br mRNA. Conclusion Altogether, these results indicate that peri‐natal nutrition has different lasting effects on feeding pattern and hypothalamic appetite regulation, depending on the time window insult.